Home » The Blog » Archive by category "Sports"

Archive for the ‘Sports’ Category

Out of the Blocks Takes us to the Future

Posted on: February 5th, 2012 by History Month
A new sports history timeline, Out of the Blocks, takes us on a tour of LGBT history in sport – from 14 AD to 2018 (yes – that’s 6 years in the future!) Thanks to Tony Bilton, we can now see how LGBT participation has always been a part of sport....

Bury and Nigeria defender Efe Sodje signs up to the Government ‘CHARTER’.

Posted on: September 13th, 2011 by History Month
On the eve of the recent 21st birthday celebrations for Manchester Pride, the local LGBT sports teams and organizations gathered to kick off the weekends main events with the annual ‘It’s a Gay Knockout’ at Taurus Bar on Canal St. This year, ‘loud and proud’ best wishes and a...

Gay Softball World Series Kicks Off In Chicago

Posted on: September 4th, 2011 by History Month
More than 3,000 softball players have descended upon Chicago this week from all over the continent for the for the 35th Annual North American Gay Amateur Athletic Alliance Gay Softball World Series, which starts tournament play Tuesday and runs through Sunday. For more, go here

Gay soccer players should not come out – says German captain

Posted on: August 30th, 2011 by History Month
Reuters – Gay professional soccer players should not come out because the repercussions could be too devastating, according to Germany captain Philipp Lahm. “I would not advise any gay professional footballer to come out,” Lahm wrote in his autobiography “The Subtle Difference”. “I would fear that he could end up...

Women’s World Cup Football Kicks off Today

Posted on: June 27th, 2011 by History Month
The Women’s World Cup Tournament Kicked off in Germany today, with England set to play Mexico. Fans can watch it on Eurosport 1 at 9.15 this evening. For those who can’t access it on TV, Eurosport player is available online here. The tournament was tainted when the Nigerian team’s coach told...

Government Makes new Pledges at Downing Street Event

Posted on: June 23rd, 2011 by History Month
LGBT History Month had a big profile at Downing Street last night when the PM David Cameron hosted an LGBT celebration before the onset of this year’s London Pride. Everyone was delighted with the latest LGBT History Month 2012 badges, which were launched at the event and will go...

Sue Sanders Goes to No. 10

Posted on: June 22nd, 2011 by History Month
Schools OUT and LGBT History Month co-chair Sue Sanders will be at a reception to hail the success of the LGBT community at 10 Downing Street this afternoon. Celebrating London Pride, but with an eye on achievements in the field of sport, the reception will also include Sarah Williams...

Equality in Sport Newsletter

Posted on: June 21st, 2011 by History Month
To read the latest Equality in Sport Newsletter, in which Lou Englefield celebrates Greater Manchester being the first County sports partnership to sign the Sports Equality Charter and we all celebrate John Amachi’s OBE, go here.  

International Outgames Calendar

Posted on: June 21st, 2011 by History Month
The International Outgames are ready to start inVancouver on July 25th. To find out more, join in and see when the next Outgames will be click here

Hope-Powell: The Real Bend It Like Beckham Girl

Posted on: June 18th, 2011 by History Month
Hope Powell tells the Guardian about the struggle to establish women’s football. She talks about the barriers she had to overcome to be a footballer and compares the game for women to what it was like for men in the early 1930s. To read the article go here

LGBT HM Pre-Launch to be held at The Oval

Posted on: June 7th, 2011 by History Month
The Oval Cricket Ground in Kennington is to host the next LGBT History Month Pre-Launch on November 21st. Co-chair Sue Sanders is delighted at the decisison. She said: “Following last year’s Pre-Launch at Twickenham, this shows that the cricket authorities are also prepared to take equalities seriously. As a...

Cohen, Obree and Lyndsey England

Posted on: May 29th, 2011 by History Month
The latest round up of LGB Sports stuff is here, as supplied by VAGA Associates Former England wing Ben Cohen has retired after being released by Sale. As England’s world cup-winning winger, rugby union star Ben Cohen has faced down his fair share of immovable obstacles. Now, after hanging up...

David Kopay Looks back on 35 years of homophobia in sport

Posted on: May 22nd, 2011 by History Month
According to The New York Daily News, the locker rooms of the US are finally opening up to gay players. Former NFL player David Kopay, who came out in 1975, says he thought it would take years – not decades – for gay players to be accepted in mainstream...

Equalities Minister IDAHO Statement

Posted on: May 18th, 2011 by History Month
In a YouTube video praising IDAHO, Minister for Equalities Lynne Featherstone promoted the LGBT Sports Charter; the hate crime reporting site True Vision; and re-emphasised her commitment to eradicating homophobia and transphobia in schools. To see the video go here
LGBT Featured Content

Pride Sports encourages LGBT Sports participants to help shape sport in England

Posted on: April 28th, 2011 by History Month
This week, Pride Sports, the UK’s LGBT sports development organisation launches a campaign to ensure that the voices of LGBT people are heard in Sport England’s Satisfaction Survey http://www.ipsos-mori.com/sqse . The Sports Council’s online survey, which yielded a response from 44,000 people, last year, helps to inform the development...
LGBT Featured Content

Leeds Comprehensive used Sport to Stamp out Homophobia

Posted on: April 15th, 2011 by History Month
A Leeds Secondary schools claims to have Stamped out Homophobia with the help of Pride Sports. Prince Henry’s in Otley ran an anti-homophobia campaign that eradicated homophobic language as a part of ‘tackling all forms of discrimination and promoting equality for all’. According to assistant head Chris Lillington it...
LGBT Featured Content

Make Football Homophobia-free. Tatchell Demands New Anti-homophobia in Football DVD

Posted on: March 23rd, 2011 by History Month
>”The Football Association (FA) needs to give a much stronger lead in tackling homophobia,” said Peter Tatchell of the human rights organisation, the Peter Tatchell Foundation. He was a keynote speaker in London on Monday 21 March at the Leading the Way conference organised by the football anti-racism, equality...
LGBT Featured Content

Invitation to WellFit Reunion Party

Posted on: March 18th, 2011 by History Month
>The WellFit Party is on March 26th at Union, Vauxhall from 10pm and they would be delighted if you would join them for the “Cologne Gay Games Reunion Party” They have an exciting line-up, with internationally famous DJ Jack Chang and the dance hit of Sky TV – Guyz...
LGBT Featured Content

Minister Launches LGBT Charter in Sport

Posted on: March 14th, 2011 by History Month
>Equalities Minister Lynne Featherstone chose an LGBT History Month sponsored event to launch an LGBT charter in Sport, on Sunday afternoon. The charter, which will invite national governing bodies of sports to commit to tackling homophobia and transphobia and making sport ‘a welcoming environment for LGB and T people’,...
LGBT Featured Content

Sports Stars Praise Eagles’ Anti-homophobia Stance

Posted on: March 11th, 2011 by History Month
>Four sportsmen who broke ground by daring to declare their homosexuality have praised Sheffield Eagles’ decision to take a stand against homophobia in sport. Dual-code rugby international Gareth Thomas, former Rugby League star turned actor Ian Roberts, England cricketer Steven Davies and former NBA basketball hall-of-famer John Amaechi all...

England Cricketer Steven Davies Comes Out

Posted on: February 28th, 2011 by History Month
>England cricketer Steve Davies came out to his teammates at the start of The Ashes tour, according to The Sun (28-02-11). Speaking to a reporter from the paper, Steve explained that he couldn’t face a three and a half month tour without explaining to his team that he was...
LGBT Featured Content

Prison Hosts Gay Players’ Football Match

Posted on: February 26th, 2011 by History Month
>Players from the Justin Campaign Allstars team competed against inmates and staff from Winchester Prison last week, in a bid to highlight this year’s Football v Homophobia campaign. The indoor football tournament took place on 9 February after inmates watched a short documentary about gay football team, the Brighton...
LGBT Featured Content

Wiltshire Group Launch Campaign Against Homophobia in Sport

Posted on: February 10th, 2011 by History Month
>Wiltshire and Swindon Men’s Sexual Health has dedicated their own poster campaign to LGBT History Month and the issue of homophobia in Sport, with “Show Homophobia the Red Card.” This poster will be sent to all gyms, sports centres, and football clubs across Wiltshire and Swindon, to be seen...
LGBT Featured Content

Past2Present Magazine: LGBT History Month 2011 Edition

Posted on: February 9th, 2011 by History Month
>Past2Present, the research magazine by Archus (The National Archives LGBT Group) & The Rainbow Network is out. This special edition tells you everything you need to know about the History Month 2011, why it is important and why it is to be celebrated. You can download a free copy...
LGBT Featured Content

Football Fans Would Accept Gay Players, New Research Shows

Posted on: February 4th, 2011 by History Month
>Staffordshire University will celebrate LGBT History Month by presenting the controversial findings of a survey into gay footballers, this month. The event will see the authors of the TopFan survey, Professor Ellis Cashmore and Dr Jamie Cleland, speaking about and taking questions on their research. And former Mayor of...
LGBT Featured Content

Sheffield Eagles Wear the Message!

Posted on: February 3rd, 2011 by History Month
>Keep March 13 free in your diary and to help us support the mighty Sheffield Eagles Rugby League FC to challenge homophobia in sport! What’s it all about?On March 13 at 3.00 pm, Sheffield Eagles’ first home game of the season, the team will be walking onto the pitch...
LGBT Featured Content

Sports Stars Take Part in LGBT History Month Official Northern Launch

Posted on: December 20th, 2010 by History Month
>Sports stars from the world of rugby, cricket and basketball will headline the official northern launch of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) History Month on 27 January at the University of Salford – with a focus on reducing the levels of homophobia in schools. Fitting with LGBT History...
LGBT Featured Content

FIFA Condemned for Lack of Gay-friendliness

Posted on: December 15th, 2010 by History Month
>The Gay Football Supporters’ Network has condemned FIFA for its decision to allow Qatar to host the World Cup in 2022. The middle eastern nation was awarded the honour despite its poor human rights record and the fact that homosexuality is criminalised in the country and carries a penalty...
LGBT Featured Content

Trans Women Golfers Can Compete

Posted on: December 6th, 2010 by History Month
>The US Ladies Professional Golf Association L.P.G.A. players have voted to eliminate the tour’s requirement that players be “female at birth” and to allow transgender athletes to compete, less than two months after a transgender woman sued the tour in federal court, arguing that the rule violated California civil...
LGBT Featured Content

Rugby League Launches Anti-homophobia Guidance

Posted on: December 2nd, 2010 by History Month
>The Rugby Football league has published a guide to combat homophobia in the sport. The guide, entitled Guidance for Rugby League Clubs – Challenging anti gay (homophobic) abuse and behaviour (pdf – 3.1Mb), was recently launched in Parliament to widespread critical acclaim. It was produced with the support and...
LGBT Featured Content

LGBT History Month and Pride Sports Sponsor Sheffield Eagle’s New Shirts

Posted on: November 17th, 2010 by History Month
>Last night at the House of Commons the Minister for Equality modelled the wonderful new shirts that LGBT History Month and Pride Sports have sponsored for the Marvellous Sheffield Eagles action during February. Sheffield Eagles currently play in Rugby League’s Championship, the division below the Super League and are...
LGBT Featured Content

Rugby Union Star Supports Gay Sports Day

Posted on: August 11th, 2010 by History Month
> England rugby union star and gay icon Ben Cohen has given his support to this year’s Gay Sports Day. The day, organised by GMFA, the gay men’s health charity, and the Royal Vauxhall Tavern, will be held in London on August 30th. For the full story go to...
LGBT Featured Content

Justin Fashanu in Extra Time

Posted on: July 8th, 2010 by History Month
>Born in 1961, Justin Fashanu was brought up by foster parents and by the children’s charity Barnardos. At 14 he signed schoolboy forms with Norwich City FC, where he progressed through the ranks and played for the first team when he was in his late teens. His 1980 volley...
LGBT Featured Content

Amaechi on Sports People Coming Out

Posted on: June 10th, 2010 by History Month
>In a remarkably clear and astute article, former US basketball player and LGBT History Month patron John Amaechi explains why coming out is still such a problem for any professional sportsperson. In the hard-hitting article, Amaechi acknowledges the role of homophobic chants from the football crowds as being a...
LGBT Featured Content

South African Lesbian Football Team Offers Sanctuary

Posted on: June 9th, 2010 by History Month
>Many people see South Africa, with its famously liberal constitution, as a bastion of sexual freedom on the continent. But in some townships, gay women in particular experience homophobic abuse, rape and murder. The BBC’s Andrew Harding has been finding out how football has given one group of gay...
LGBT Featured Content

BBC Airs Documentary on LGB People in Sport

Posted on: May 24th, 2010 by History Month
>BBC1 is airing a documentary on LGB people – or the lack of them – in sport. The programme, entitled Inside Sport: The Last Taboo? will go out on Monday 24th May at 11.20pm. Presented by Mark Chapman, it includes interviews with Donal Cusack, tennis legend Martina Navratilova, former...
LGBT Featured Content

Two AntiPodean Olympians Come Out

Posted on: May 7th, 2010 by History Month
>Last month, Daniel Kowalski, a retired Australian middle- and long-distance swimmer specialising in freestyle events, came out; joining the small group elite male athletes to do so. This includes retired NSW rugby league player Ian Roberts and Olympic gold-medal winning diver Matthew Mitcham. Kowalski says he was inspired to...
LGBT Featured Content

Speaking About Silence: Homophobia in the Sports World

Posted on: May 5th, 2010 by History Month
>A few days from the 2010 Winter Olympic Games in Vancouver, the Canadian organisation Fondation Émergence launched its annual campaign to fight against homophobia. Entitled “Speaking About Silence”, this campaign is geared toward the sports world and will reach its highpoint on May 17, 2010, on the International Day...
LGBT Featured Content

Euro Pride Youth Games 2010

Posted on: May 4th, 2010 by History Month
>This year’s Euro Pride Youth games will be taking place in Manchester between the 10th and 13th of June. The games are a six-day sport and physical activity event. The programme also comprises a human rights conference and social activities. The event is open to young people who identify...
LGBT Featured Content

Gay Games 2010: London Orca’s Countdown Kicks Off

Posted on: April 26th, 2010 by History Month
>With only 4 months to go until the Gay Games, London Orca water polo team are training hard both in and out of the pool. Captain Ben Evans explains: “The Gay Games are a real focus for us – a wonderful opportunity to play other gay teams in a...
LGBT Featured Content

Women’s Basketball Team Celebrate After Trophy Win

Posted on: April 25th, 2010 by History Month
>Players from London Cruisers women’s basketball team are celebrating after their recent win at this year’s annual Duessel-Cup. Read the full article in the Pink Paper here.
LGBT Featured Content

United for Football V Homophobia

Posted on: February 24th, 2010 by History Month 1 Comment
>On Friday, community leaders and activists gathered together outside Manchester’s URBIS, the future home of the National Football Museum to show solidarity with the Justin Campaign’s Football v Homophobia Day. Those endorsing the campaign include Sue Sanders, Co-Chair of Schools Out and LGBT History Month, Trevor Burchick MBE, Director...
LGBT Featured Content

19 February Is Football V. Homophobia Day

Posted on: February 19th, 2010 by History Month
>On February 19th 2010, The Justin Campaign are launching an initiative, Football v Homophobia, to raise awareness of homophobia in amateur and professional football; to unite clubs, players and fans internationally by using the game of football to bring communities together in opposing hate and intolerance in the world’s...
LGBT Featured Content

Gareth Thomas, New Patron of LGBT History Month

Posted on: January 23rd, 2010 by History Month 3 Comments
>LGBT History Month proudly announced its latest patron today – rugby star Gareth ‘Alfie’ Thomas. Thomas’s 100 caps for Wales will go down in history, but he rocked the establishment in December 09, when he became the first international rugby union player to come out as a gay man....
LGBT Featured Content

Ex-Lion Gareth Thomas Reveals He Is Gay

Posted on: December 19th, 2009 by History Month
>Former Wales and Lions captain Gareth Thomas has broken one of the major taboos that surround sport by revealing he is gay. Read the full article on BBC Sport here. There is also a very long (and positive) article in the Daily Mail here.
LGBT Featured Content

Mark Leduc Dies

Posted on: July 27th, 2009 by History Month
> Mark Leduc 1962 – 2009 Olympic medalist, boxer and gay rights campaigner, Mark Leduc, has died of a heat stroke. He was 47. Obituary:- Mark Leduc, 47: Gay athlete, Olympic medallist, The Star- Mark Leduc on Wikipedia
LGBT Featured Content

German Gay Footballer to Get Biopic Treatment

Posted on: February 10th, 2009 by History Month
>The story of a former East German footballer who left the professional game after deciding to come out of the closet is to be made into a film. Marcus Urban, 38, was sent to a sports boarding school at aged 13 and played for the national youth teams in...
LGBT Featured Content

Nigel Owen: The Only Gay on the Pitch

Posted on: January 6th, 2009 by History Month
>After a failed attempt to kill himself, it took guts for professional referee Nigel Owens to come out in the rough, tough world of rugby. But he was surprised by the reactions. Read the full Guardian article here. The (rather confused and confusing) article in the Telegraph can be...
LGBT Featured Content

Ten Years After: We Remember Justin

Posted on: November 27th, 2008 by History Month
>This year saw the tenth anniversary of the tragic suicide of Britain’s only out gay footballer Justin Fashanu. The Justin Campaign is using this occasion to push forward the campaign against homophobia in football. It is easy to forget that Justin was the first £1m player and that he...
LGBT Featured Content

Posted on: October 24th, 2008 by History Month
>Earlier this week, Kick It Out, the campaigning organisation against racism in football, and the Football Association co-hosted a forum titled ‘Homophobia – Football’s Final Taboo’. The event, which included speakers such as Peter Tatchell, Lucy Faulkner from the FA, Barney Efthimiou from the Gay Football Supporters Network, and...
LGBT Featured Content

England Wins World Cup (the Gay One)

Posted on: September 1st, 2008 by History Month
>Stonewall Lions beat Argentinian side SAF Gay 5-0 in the final of the annual gay men’s world championship here on Saturday. Stonewall triumphed over the Seleccion Argentina de Futbol Gay at the Matchroom Stadium, home of the east London third-tier English League One side Leyton Orient. The trophy was...
LGBT Featured Content

Pink Gold in Beijing

Posted on: August 29th, 2008 by History Month
>”Coming out publicly, that was a first,” said his mother. “The highest score awarded to an Olympic dive ever, another first. How many more firsts can this child get? Can you find something else to be first in? He’s just done so well. He deserves it.” Matthew Mitcham, 20,...
LGBT Featured Content

IGLFA World Championship

Posted on: August 28th, 2008 by History Month
>This August London is hosting the International Gay and Lesbian Football Association’s World Championship. The final is to take place this Saturday at Leyton Orient FC in east London and the British team, Stonewall FC, which won the European Gay Football Championship last month, is strongly tipped to win....
LGBT Featured Content

International Match to Honour Lesbian Football Hero

Posted on: January 21st, 2008 by History Month
>She was a footballing genius who lit up the game in the 1920s and 1930s with her antics on and off the field. Lily Parr, who lived openly with her partner Mary and insisted on being paid in Woodbine cigarettes, was the first woman to be inducted into the...
LGBT Featured Content

The Interview: Graeme Le Saux

Posted on: December 22nd, 2007 by History Month
>Graeme Le Saux is a footballer who had a successful career playing for top club Chelsea and representing England — but he never felt like he fitted in to the British football culture. He wasn’t keen on getting drunk or hanging out with his team-mates and he ended up...
LGBT Featured Content

Premier League Club Tackles Homophobia in Football

Posted on: November 9th, 2007 by History Month
>Reading FC has become one of the first football clubs to actively implement the new Football Association and Gay Footballers Supporters’ Network initiative to combat homophobia in football. The GFSN said it is delighted with the response that Reading has made to the initiative, and urged all other Premier...
LGBT Featured Content

Stonewall FC Lose World Champion Title

Posted on: October 3rd, 2007 by History Month
>Britain’s dreams of retaining their Gay World Cup trophy were in tatters yesterday as the Argentinean team Los Dogos beat the reigning champions 1-0 Buenos Aires’ Defensores de Belgrano stadium. London’s Stonewall squad fought valiantly against the team, who were participating for the first time in the event. “The...
LGBT Featured Content

Women’s Football World Cup on BBC2

Posted on: September 29th, 2007 by History Month
>One of our readers sends us the following:The closing matches of the Women’s Football World Cup are taking place this weekend in Shanghai. The Final, between Germany and Brazil, will be shown live on BBC2 (and online) this Sunday 30th September at 12:45pm. The playoff for 3rd and 4th...
LGBT Featured Content

Billy Jean

Posted on: September 18th, 2007 by History Month
>The fight against discrimination goes on for the reluctant revolutionary, tennis champion, Billie Jean King.The woman who changed perceptions about her sexuality and her sport talks frankly about a ‘lifetime endeavour’ for acceptance. Read the full article from the Times here.
LGBT Featured Content

Gay Referee at Rugby World Cup 07

Posted on: September 14th, 2007 by History Month
>The world of sports is notoriously unwelcoming to LGBT people. However if a sport had to be singled out as being perhaps more friendly than other, Rugby Football would probably become a strong contender. Of course there are no openly gay professional players but clubs like the London King’s...
LGBT Featured Content

Footballer Comes Out on Homophobic Bullying

Posted on: September 13th, 2007 by History Month
>Extracts from Graeme Le Saux’s autobiography published by The Times reveals that taunts over the player’s sexuality, which began as a dressing-room joke, nearly drove Le Saux out of the game. Read the full extract here. See also:Footballer names Premier League homophobes – Pink News.
LGBT Featured Content

London Cruisers Host Gay and Lesbian Basketball Tournament

Posted on: August 21st, 2007 by History Month
>On Saturday 25th and Sunday 26th of August, London’s gay and lesbian baskeball club, the Cruisers, will be hosting an international asketball tournament at the Score Sport Centre in Leyton (east London). The Cruisers teams will be competing against 10 other teams coming from countries as varied as Sweden,...
LGBT Featured Content

Gay Wheels

Posted on: July 8th, 2007 by History Month
>Le Tour de France is in London Town this week-end. Throngs of people are taking advantage of the blocked off streets in the centre of town and even the sun has decided to put in a appearance. This is as good an opportunity as any to take a look...
SEARCH THIS SITE & SCHOOLS OUT
SUBSCRIBE TO THE LGBT NEWSLETTER
RECENT ADDITIONS
Leeds Rhinos Proud Rhinos to celebrate sporting equality World Club champions Leeds Rhinos are dedicating their Stobart Super League Round 24 fixture against Widnes Vikings on Friday...
ilga europe Britain is the best place to be LGBT: ILGA The new international study of LGBT rights across Europe is now available. Covering very nation state in the continent,...
IDAHO_logo-97958 Teach the IDAHO Lesson IDAHO has launched a new initiative to tackle homophobic/transphobic bullying. The ’IDAHO Lesson’ is an international initiative by where...
the-university-of-greenwich ILGA Asylum Seekers’ Survey A survey seeking the views and experiences of LGBT asylum seekers and people involved in the LGBT asylum seeking process throughout...
ESC Support Every Second Counts A great supporter of LGBT History Month is seeking sponsors. Robert Brown will be doing an Olympic triathlon on Saturday May...
Barack Obama Thank You Here is the YouTube video of Barack Obama making history by becoming the first US president ever to endorse...
IDAHO_logo-97958 IDAHO Makes International Video With just a little over a week to go until the International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia (IDAHO), the...
two rings Same Sex Marriage? So What’s New There’s nothing new about same-sex marriage, according to The LGBT Excellence Centre in Wales. Egyptians, Mesopotanians, Greeks and Romans...
Christian LGBT What the Bible Really Says A new YouTube video deals with the Bible and what it really says about us. Matthew Vines, a fully fledged...
Gerald_Howarth Howarth: We Must Ditch Same-Sex Marriage Senior Tories warned against loyal voters decamping to the more right wing anti-Europe UKIP Party after the drubbing they...
LGBT COMMUNITY EVENTS

LGBT History Month Patrons:
John Amaechi, former international basketball player, broadcaster and psychologist, Christine Burns, Equality and diversity specialist, podcaster, campaigner, Dr Harry Cocks, social historian and writer, Angela Eagle MP Work and Pensions, Professor Viv Gardner, Martin Harris Centre for Music and Drama, Professor Martin Hall, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Salford University, Sir Ian McKellen, actor, Cyril Nri, actor, director and writer, Ian Rivers, Professor of Human Development; Subject Leader for Sports Sciences, Brunel University, Professor Sheila Rowbotham, lecturer and campaigner, Labi Siffre, poet, songwriter and singer, Professor Melanie Tebbutt, Director, Manchester Centre for Regional History, Senior Lecturer, Manchester Metropolitan University, Gareth Thomas, rugby international, Jeffrey Weeks, historian, sociologist, author and LGBT activist, Stephen Whittle OBE, Professor of Equalities Law in the School of Law at Manchester Metropolitan University