Hermansen & Cayman Meet Foxes Pride At Dover Castle
- Leicester City stars Mads Hermansen and Janice Cayman met Foxes Pride members at the Dover Castle pub
- The Dover Castle is an LGBTQ+ venue in Leicester city centre where Foxes Pride meet on home matchdays
- This weekend’s double-header of fixtures at King Power Stadium will be dedicated to the Football v Homophobia initiative
- PUMA rainbow match ball to be used across Sky Bet EFL games between 16-24 February
The meet-up, which also honoured LGBT History Month, was held in the Dover Castle pub in Leicester city centre and saw Hermansen and Cayman introduced to the work of Foxes Pride and their efforts alongside Leicester City to tackle homophobia, biphobia and transphobia in football.
They also discussed some of the group’s challenges as LGBTQ+ supporters and the importance of allyship, along with gaining a deeper understanding of initiatives such as Football v Homophobia and the Rainbow Laces campaign.
Hermansen said: “It was an honour to meet Foxes Pride and learn about their incredible efforts in promoting inclusivity in football and making coming to watch Leicester City a safe and welcoming environment.
“As players, we have a responsibility to support and stand up for all fans, and events like these allow us to deepen our understanding and contribute to positive change."
The Football v Homophobia initiative challenges discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity.
It was formed by the Justin Campaign in 2010, a group founded in 2008 to demonstrate that 10 years after Justin Fashanu’s tragic suicide in 1998, homophobia is still hugely prevalent in both grassroots and professional football.
A Meeting With Foxes Pride
Mads Hermansen and Janice Cayman took time out to chat to members of Foxes Pride, ahead of this weekend's home fixtures being dedicated to Football v Homophobia.
Branding will be visible throughout King Power Stadium this weekend, with the Men’s team facing Middlesbrough on Saturday and LCFC Women hosting Bristol City the following day. Both fixtures will kick-off at 3pm GMT.
Cayman added: "I am proud to be part of a Club that actively supports its LGBTQ+ community. Meeting with Foxes Pride members was a really great experience, and it further solidified my belief in the importance of creating a safe and inclusive environment for all fans."
By showcasing its ongoing commitment to inclusivity, the event at the Dover Castle pub, which is an LGBTQ+ venue where Foxes Pride meet on home matchdays, aimed to highlight how the Football Club fosters an environment where all individuals, regardless of their sexual orientation, feel valued and supported.
The Club remains committed to promoting an inclusive and diverse fanbase, and events like this demonstrate its dedication to promoting equality within the sport.
Graeme Smith, Co-chair of Foxes Pride, said: “It was great to meet Mads and Janice. Their openness to learn from Foxes Pride about the experiences of LGBTQ+ fans was heartening.
“It was also good to hear about their own experiences, as well as their commitment to standing up and working to make football a safe place for all.
“This is a further example of how Leicester City and LCFC women are determined to take a stand against LGBT-phobia.”
PUMA and the EFL have announced a PUMA rainbow match ball will be used across Sky Bet EFL matches between 16-24 February. A first of its kind in English football, the ball represents the EFL’s commitment to the LGBTQ+ community, with the design including rainbow and progress colours.
Should you experience any form of discrimination in a Leicester City setting, please contact help@lcfc.co.uk or call 0344 815 5000 (option 4). Furthermore, you can also report any form of discrimination or hate crime by texting the word ‘FOXES’ to 60066.
Please click HERE for more information about Foxes Pride. Details about the Football v Homophobia initiative can be found HERE.