Rainbow Laces

Spurs proud to show support for LGBT+ community

6 Dec 2020
Premier League clubs support Rainbow Laces campaign

Eric Dier and Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg meet Proud Lilywhites ahead of Rainbow Laces match

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Sunday's north London derby is a special match for Tottenham Hotspur not just because of the opponents, Arsenal, or the return of fans to the stadium. It is also the match to celebrate the club's support for Rainbow Laces. 

As part of that, the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium will be illuminated in rainbow colours ahead of the derby, while players such as Son Heung-min will wear special rainbow-coloured boots.

Spurs were one of the first Premier League clubs to establish a LGBT+ supporters’ association, with the formation of Proud Lilywhites in February 2014.

Proud Lilywhites has worked closely with Spurs on a range of initiatives to engage the club’s LGBT+ fanbase, its staff and partners.

The group’s signature flag is seen at home matches, LGBT+ awareness training has been held for Spurs staff and matchday stewards, and football sessions for its members have been delivered by the Tottenham Hotspur Foundation.

Throughout the pandemic, Proud Lilywhites has organised virtual quizzes and pre-match meetings to keep its members in regular contact through challenging times.

Ahead of their Rainbow Laces match, the group held a special virtual chat with Spurs' first-team stars Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg and Eric Dier.

"We have to set the foundations with the youth and educate in the right way to effect a change over a long period of time," Dier says in the chat. "But also we can't just wait for those young people to grow up and implement that change.

"We have to confront those [opinions of] older people who have lived in different times."

When asked how the support of Spurs helps, one member Erin explains: "The idea of not being forgotten by your club is huge.

"With so many struggles of LGBT youths within their family or school situations to know that their club knows that they are an important human being is immense."

Also in this series

Part 1: League renews partnership with Stonewall
Part 2: Rainbow Blades bringing colour to Sheff Utd
Part 3: Premier League passion in the US: Katherine's story
Part 5: Bellerin: I'm not afraid to support Gay Gooners
Part 6: 'We want LGBT+ inclusion woven in the fabric of football'
Part 7: Premier League clubs show Rainbow Laces support
Part 8: Proud Baggies aiming to educate fans
Part 9: How Man Utd are creating a club for all
Part 10: Cahill: Everyone should be accepted for who they are
Part 11: Justin: It’s important to learn about LGBT issues

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