Sports Charter

On Monday 14 March 2011 the government, together with major sporting bodies, launched a Charter calling for anyone and everyone with an interest or involvement in sport to unite in a common cause to tackle homophobia and transphobia in sport.

Logo competition

On 23 November 2011, Equalities minister Lynne Featherstone launched a competition for sports clubs, fans and players across the country to design a logo for the Charter and mark their support for the campaign.

The first stage closed on 18 January 2012, and we were delighted to have received nearly 70 entries, most of them from young people.

Rugby union star and competition judge Ben Cohen shortlisted the top six entries, and we opened a public vote to decide on the winning design.

Voting now closed

Voting closed on Monday 20 February 2012, but you can still go to our Facebook page to view the shortlisted entries.

Once votes have been counted, the logo with the highest number of votes will go to a professional design team before a final unveiling in March.

More information is available in the competition leaflet and terms and conditions.

Signing the Charter

To date nearly 3000 sporting bodies, clubs, professional athletes, celebrities and fans have signed the Charter and committed to taking action.

Signatories include Billie Jean-King, Ben Cohen, Martina Navratilova, Gareth Thomas, Stephen Fry and David Furnish.

On 2 February 2012, the Charter received a further boost when every football club in the Premier League signed up.

All these clubs are fully committed to challenging discrimination and working to rid footaball of homophobic and transphobic abuse, both in the stands and on the field.

Use the sports charter communication toolkit to spread the word

The communications toolkit will help national governing bodies and clubs to promote the Charter and to demonstrate the work you are doing to tackle homophobia and transphobia. The toolkit includes:

• top tips for getting the message out
• features articles for club magazines or programmes and sport National Governing Body
• press notice, poster, flyer and leaflet 

About the Sports Charter

The Football Association, England and Wales Cricket Board, Lawn Tennis Association, Rugby Football League and Rugby Football Union,and the London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games, were amongst the first signatories.

The Charter states:

• we believe that everyone should be able to participate in and enjoy sport – whoever they are and whatever their background
• we believe that sport is about fairness and equality, respect and dignity. Sport teaches individuals how to strive and succeed, how to cope with success and disappointment, and brings people together with a common goal
• we are committed to making these values a reality for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people. We will work together, and individually, to rid sport of homophobia and transphobia
• we will make sport a welcome place for everyone – for those participating in sport, those attending sporting events and for those working or volunteering in sports at any level
• we will work with all these groups to ensure they have a voice, and to challenge unacceptable behaviour

See the Sports Charter in full.