The Football Supporters’ Association (FSA) held the first meeting of its new LGBTQ+ Supporters’ Hub on Monday 24th November, bringing together LGBTQ+ supporters’ groups from across the country alongside key stakeholders including the EFL, WSL, Football v Homophobia, and the Premier League.

• Looking to get involved or learn more? Email: [email protected]

The meeting marked a major step forward in strengthening collaboration, peer support, and campaigning across the LGBTQ+ fan community. It was organised by the joint FSA and Kick It Out campaign, Fans for Diversity.

The Hub which has been developed through consultation with LGBTQ+ supporters’ groups aims to provide an inclusive, flexible and supportive space to share best practice, build stronger networks and amplify the voice of LGBTQ+ fans across the football pyramid. This first meeting set out the roadmap for the year ahead, discussed priorities, and explored the development of regional alliances.

The roadmap

The Hub summarised the proposed plan and how supporter feedback has shaped it. The roadmap incorporates three meetings per year. Two online and one in-person. Plus, the main LGBTQ+ football campaign month in February.

The roadmap presented included:

• A clear annual meeting cycle.
• Themed sessions covering knowledge-sharing, campaign planning, training and networking.
• Guest speakers from across football and the wider inclusion sector.

Campaign updates

The meeting included an update on key campaigns and upcoming activity across the game:

• EFL Rainbow Ball – The campaign will run for a 3rd consecutive season between 20th February to 1st March 2026. Lookout for the launch of the newly designed Rainbow Ball.
• Premier League LGBTQ+ Campaign – The campaign will run between 7th to 11th February 2026 and will incorporate LGBT+ History Month & Football v Homophobia Month of Action.
• Football v Homophobia Month of Action – The campaign run for the month of February & resources are available to groups and how supporters can help coordinate efforts.
• WSL campaign activity – The WSL are encouraging clubs to participate in Football v Homophobia Month of Action in February 2026.

Regional alliances: strengthening local collaboration

A major focus of the meeting was the development of Regional Alliances (RA), an idea strongly supported in earlier conversations.

Martin from Proud Forest provided a case study on how the Regional Alliance in Yorkshire, Derbyshire & Nottinghamshire has been hugely beneficial to his personal journey and of Proud Forest. The RA has offered peer support, best practice sharing, and opportunities for deeper connection between nearby groups. Alliances provide:

• A safe space with fewer members, allowing for more open discussion.
• Opportunities to share resources, from committee frameworks to marketing & design ideas.
• Rotating host groups, giving each group visibility.
• Stronger local collaboration on events and campaigns.

The Hub will support the development of new regional alliances, beginning with those areas where clubs and groups have already expressed strong interest.

What’s next for the Hub?

The meeting concluded with an open discussion and a look ahead at next steps. Over the coming months, the FSA will work with the Hub to progress the action plan.

Some of the ideas that came out of the Hub were:

• Developing a Digital LGBTQ+ Supporters’ Toolkit.
• Creating a landing page so each group can have their logo, social media and website on display.
• Future sessions on specialist topics such as wellbeing & mental health support and continued stakeholder communication and consultation.
• Supporting the launch of new regional alliances.
• Establishing peer-led group health checks to ensure groups can access support early.
• Collaborating with Pride in Football on an in-person day in 2026 for LGBTQ+ supporters’ groups.

A positive start built on shared purpose

The LGBTQ+ Hub is already seen as a significant addition to the football supporters’ movement: a space where groups feel safe, supported and connected, and where meaningful collaboration across football’s governing bodies can grow.

We’re grateful to every group and partner organisation that attended the first meeting. The message was clear: this Hub will only thrive if we build it together.

The FSA, and all participating stakeholders look forward to working with LGBTQ+ supporters’ groups to strengthen inclusion across the game.

• Looking to get involved or learn more? Email: [email protected]