As part of our Rainbow Laces campaign, we have teamed up with A view from a bridge to give LGBTQ+ fans a space to share their thoughts, stories and experiences.

For the first in the series, we spoke to Snake, a Chelsea fan who plays for Stonewall FC on inclusion, representation and the importance of the LGBTQ+ community.

Here we present Snake’s words in a transcript of our conversation…

“Growing up, I didn’t think gay people played football.

“I’ve played Sunday League all my life and as far as I know, I’ve never shared the pitch with another gay person. So when I came out a few years ago, I kind of thought maybe I’d be one of the best gay footballers of all time? If there is a gay Ballon d’Or, I have to be on the shortlist!

“And then I joined an LGBTQ+ team and went to the first practice and realized how completely wrong I was. The team was good! It was humiliating.

“If you’re a queer football fan, you might feel like people don’t exist and that no one else has your experiences.

“From the outside it seems unusual. This hasn’t always been obvious: gay people haven’t always felt welcome in football, so it’s easy to make the mistake and say, “Oh, there won’t be any other people.” homosexual supporters.”

“But actually what I found is that the further I go down the rabbit hole and into the gay football scene, the more of us there are. And there have always been a lot of us.

“If you go to a game, chances are there will be another LGBTQ+ fan there. Maybe they don’t say it very loudly, but they will be there at the football.

“If you can find these people and this community, you’re golden, you’re nice – it’s going to be so empowering for you and it’s such a great feeling.

“My relationship with football and my sexuality is a paradox because when I was younger, football was a bit of what kept me in the closet and prevented me from coming out because I didn’t feel safe. I didn’t really think I would be accepted into the teams I played for or maybe on match days.

“Whereas now, the opposite is true. Football is a space where I explore my sexuality, it’s where I meet other gay people. This is where I find a community and it is very unlikely: football is now my vehicle to explore my homosexuality. And obviously, outside of the queer community, I have so many friends that I’ve made through football, people from all different backgrounds.

“Maybe it’s sad to say, but most of my friends, at some level, come from football or have a connection to football, because it’s something we love.

“So for me, Chelsea is an integral part of my identity. I grew up going to games with my dad and all his friends and I love my dad and his friends and I love going to football with them. But as I got older, I discovered a community of queer football fans and queer Chelsea fans. And it’s amazing because it’s such a powerful niche, and I feel so grateful to have found a specific group of people.

“I think when you come out, it’s very important: you can find your people and your community. It’s a cliché – you’ll hear it from everyone – but community is so important.

Premier League and LGBTQ+

Snake’s story is a wonderful reminder of the power of football and community. In the Premier League, we are committed to ensuring that football is accessible to all and that everyone feels welcome.

We continue to work throughout the year to promote LGBTQ+ inclusion in all areas of the game and we are proud to support and work alongside our clubs in their efforts to promote inclusion and diversity in stadiums and in their local communities.

Snake photography by Joe Bloom