Sport has the power to unite communities, to embrace diversity and to champion human rights. It can help to change lives and build friendships and confidence. Sport is an integral part of Loughborough University’s DNA and a vehicle for change on our campuses.
In line with our values, we seek to call out inequality and discrimination whilst also working in partnership to lead change. Throughout the year, members of our community collaborate across campus to lead events, seminars and workshops to push for change and provide important resources for our communities. Over the coming months, for example, we’ll launch our 2022 Rainbow Laces campaign to raise awareness of and make a stand against homophobia, biphobia and transphobia in sport. The annual campaign is a clear, physical way of showing our support for LGBT+ people in sport and demonstrating that sport is for everyone. Our students’ LGBT+ Association has also worked with Leicester Wildcats, Leicester’s only LGBTQ+ football club, on inclusive training days for our students.
We hope that in calling out inequality and discrimination faced by people in Qatar and working as a community we can build the fairer, more equitable and anti-discriminatory world we want to see, starting here at Loughborough and in the UK.
Professor Charlotte Croffie, Pro Vice-Chancellor for Equity, Diversity and Inclusion, in consultation with the Loughborough University LGBT+ Staff Network committee