Homophobic chants and FvH Awards chat with Jake Williamson, Jim Dolan and FC Bellevue's 'Sheep'

At Chelsea's first three games of 2023 - and in the Manchester
United vs Everton tie in the FA Cup - some fans have been heard
singing a chant that's depressingly familiar - "Chelsea rent
boys".


The Football v Homophobia campaign is determined
to help dismantle this discriminatory chant. Helping host
Jon Holmes of Sports Media LGBT+ to kick it into
touch on this episode of the podcast are:



Jake Williamson, who has previously shared his
experiences of being a Chelsea fan, wanting to be a
professional footballer, and coming out as gay


Jim Dolan, the founder and former co-chair of
West Ham’s LGBTQ+ and allies fan group, Pride of
Irons

and Delwyn ‘Sheep’ Derrick, the founder of
FC Bellevue in Wrexham whose outstanding
allyship in Welsh football has been widely recognised



Jake, Jim and Sheep discuss how this chant and other instances of
homophobic language have affected them and their friends in
football down the years, and offer their thoughts on how to
tackle the problem. There's advice for the authorities and for
fans - whether LGBTQ+ or allies - who want to play their part in
making the atmosphere at our stadiums more inclusive.


The first section of this episode does contain some homophobic
words and phrases used in context as examples of discriminatory
language. 


Additional notes - Episode 20 of the FvH Podcast from August 2021
with Tracy Brown (Chelsea Pride) and Paul Amann (Kop Outs!);
'What is the 'Chelsea rent boy’ chant and why is it homophobic?'
by Will Stroude for PinkNews (Jan 2023); and 'Chelsea rent boys'
chant has no place in modern football - homophobia must be
treated like racism' by Emma Smith for Goal.com (Feb 2022)


We need YOU! The nominations window for the fourth annual
FvH Awards is open until 20 January 2023, with 11
categories in which to show your appreciation for the clubs, fan
groups, county FAs and 'heroes' helping to make the game more
LGBTQ+ friendly.


Jake, Jim and 'Sheep' discuss why it's so important to recognise
and celebrate our communities - including, of course, our allies
- and they select some of their own personal standouts from 2022.
Don't forget to nominate! Awards Night will be at the National
Football Museum in Manchester on February 24, 2023.


February is also the Month of Action! Get involved!


Thanks for listening - please subscribe, rate, review and share
on socials. We're at @FvHtweets on Twitter;
@football_v_homophobia on Instagram; and you can like us on
Facebook too.


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