Student sportsmen and women have laced their boots to show bigotry the red card.
Players from the university’s women’s and men’s rugby squads and the women’s football team donned rainbow-coloured laces on Sunday, in support of a national campaign to kick homophobia out of sport.
The Rainbow Laces campaign aims to tackle homophobia in sport and raise awareness of issues faced by lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender players and fans.
Cambridge women’s rugby captain Lara Gibson said: “We’re wearing rainbow laces to send a clear message that all sport – either as a participant or supporter – is for everyone.
“Around the world, many LGBT+ people want to take part in sport, either as players or fans, but the behaviour of a minority can make people feel unwelcome, unsafe or unable to be themselves.
Varsity women’s football captain Gerda Bachrati donned the laces ahead of the first ever Varsity Football double-header on Sunday, when both Cambridge&apos;s men’s and women’s teams took on Oxford at The Hive Stadium, home of Barnet FC. Unfortunately it was a double victory for the Other Place, with both Cambridge teams failing to defeat their bitter rivals.
The university&apos;s equality champion Dr Nick Bampos said: “I’m proud to see our teams joining Stonewall’s Rainbow Laces campaign, encouraging all of us to do our part in making all people feel welcome in sport.
“It’s crucial for organisations like the University of Cambridge to show we not only welcome LGBT+ people, but are active in leading positive change."
LGBT+ charity Stonewall is behind the campaign. For more information, or to buy a pair of the laces, see here for details.