Football has always been more than just a game to me. It’s a place where I’ve learned teamwork, resilience, and leadership – but it is also a space where I felt seen and safe, somewhere I can be myself. That is why LGBTQ+ History Month feels so important to reflect on, especially in football. It is a time to celebrate the progress of the game and society but also recognise how far there is still to go.

Whilst progress has been made, many LGBTQ+ people continue to navigate the game carefully. February is also Football V Homophobia Month of Action. An initiative that exists to challenge discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity and expression at all levels of football. The two campaigns connect because they both remind us change doesn’t happen by chance, it happens when people speak up, show up, and make inclusion part of football culture.

Football has given me some of my best memories and friendships. It has provided a space for me to explore my identity and be myself in the Women’s Game. However, for some the reality is far from this – with the unspoken assumptions that still exist in football spaces. Inclusive football is so significant for individuals, the game should be truly for all; we have a collective responsibility to achieve this. When football feels safe, it allows for people to focus on what really matters, enjoying the game, learning, and growing together.

Visibility matters in the game, and role models play a huge role in that. Seeing LGBTQ+ people and allies in football who are unapologetically themselves sends a powerful message: you belong here. Growing up, seeing the likes of Megan Rapinoe, on the pitch scoring goals and off the pitch open about her identity and advocacy for a better game, and world. Today, the Lionesses are some of the most influential and inspirational sports people in the world, and their captain Leah Williamson is an impactful LGBTQ+ role model. Women’s football in particular has fostered a sense of inclusion that all levels of the game should aspire to.

Football has a unique power to bring together people across all backgrounds, communities, and identities. It can be a vehicle for real change and requires leadership, education and bravery. We all play a part in this. The football culture I’d like to see is one where LGBTQ+ people don’t have to question whether they’ll be accepted, they simply are. Inclusion should be the standard, not the exception.

LGBTQ+ History Month is a time to celebrate progress, honour those who came before us, and reflect on the work to be done. It gives me hope to see more conversations, more allies, and more young people committed to making the game better than they found it. Together we can help ensure everyone feels there’s a place for them in football.