A football club which embraces and supports the diversity of its community has never been more important to society, and as Reading Pride takes place today, Club Chairman, Martin Law and our Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Officer, Ryan Sheehan have this joint message:

As a club, we have instilled values based on the iconic Maiwand Lion located in Forbury Gardens, Reading and are therefore committed to ensuring everyone feels welcome and part of our Pride here at Reading City Football Club. Not only when they enter through the turnstile at the Rivermoor on a Saturday afternoon but throughout Reading.

Whilst progress has been made, we are mindful that more needs to be done before LGBTQ+ people begin to feel truly represented and included in the game we all love, and for our fans who are also part of the LGBTQ+ community, being able to see their club supporting them as much as they support the club week in week out can have such a big impact on their lives.

Pride celebrates lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ+) social and self-acceptance, achievements, legal rights, as well as liberation and pride. It is also an opportunity for anyone and everyone to come together to be a positive ally in love, friendship and unity.

Football, like Pride, has always had the power to bring people together, celebrating history and legends, and Pride is no different as we march on the foundations of LGBTQ+ trailblazers remembering history and being curious in our minds as to where it all began and why.

Sadly 56 years after the Stonewall Riots, the recent wave in homophobic attacks in London. Coupled with annual home office statistics, which show that homophobic hate crimes increased by 41% in the year to March 2022 and transphobic hate crimes went up by 56% in England and Wales. Shows that pride will continue to be as important as the first protests were in 1967 and will remain important until everyone can walk hand in hand with the people they love without being attacked.

But more widely than this, there are countries around the world where it is illegal to be anything other than heterosexual. Depending on the country, your punishment could be a fine, imprisonment or torture.

In Iran, you could be sentenced to death.

Even in the supposed land of the free, a Florida law was passed in March last year banning the classroom instruction on sexual orientation or gender identity – also known as the ‘Don’t Say Gay’ bill. Part of this bill would mean if a child confided in a teacher about their sexuality then the teacher would be required to report this.

Pride events are about human rights, empowering LGBTQ+ individuals to reclaim the rights and freedoms they are denied, and the public space they often feel excluded from.

Visibility is crucial to fighting shame and social stigma, marching in the face of threats and violence. Pride events inspire celebrations of difference and show that LGBTQ+ communities will not to be intimidated and will continue to demand equality.

As a football club in one of one of the most diverse places in the country, we have supporters from all different identities and backgrounds, and we’re committed to celebrating the diversity and strength of our pride.

Whilst we are disappointed, we can’t be with you in person today we will still be visibly be supporting Reading Pride during our historic Emirates FA Cup First Round Qualifying clash as our Captain will wear the Rainbow Captain’s Armband which is commissioned by Stonewall.

As a club at the heart of the community we’re proud to champion the values of unity and equality, striving to create a safe haven that celebrates diversity and inclusivity.

We are committed to identifying, confronting and eliminating discrimination, whether by reason of race, colour, nationality, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, marital or civil partner status, age, ethnic and national origin, pregnancy or maternity, disability or gender reassignment.

We intend to ensure that everyone who wishes to engage with the club, whether as match-day fans, staff, players, board members, participants in community programmes and any other person engaged with the club’s activities, has a real and equal opportunity to do so.

On behalf of everyone at Reading City Football Club we’d like to wish everyone celebrating a happy and safe pride.

We hope you all have a fantastic time and remember to be proud and most importantly be you!

Today’s Love Unites parade and festival is the 20th Reading Pride and begins at 10:45 with a parade through the centre of Reading, the magnificent spectacle will see Central Reading transformed into a sea of colour as the parade makes its way to Kings Meadow for 12:00 where a free festival with a full line-up of entertainment, including a headline performance from Claire Richards best known for being in the pop group Steps, across three stages throughout the day along with a funfair, family area, a wide range of food, drink and market stalls where you’ll find our friends at Berks and Bucks Football Association and Launchpad.

Find out more about the Love Unites Parade & Festival by visiting www.readingpride.co.uk