Dedicated LGBTQ+ matchday fan zone

Beacon of Light will be hosting a dedicated LGBTQ+ matchday fan zone with the help of the Premier League Fans Fund.

The Pride in Sunderland team and LGBTQ+ community projects will join the Beacon of Light fanzone this weekend to share plans for their amazing event in June and promote the new Sunderland AFC supporters’ group.

The Premier League Fans Fund supports football clubs at all levels to strengthen connections between them, their fans, and local communities, including initiatives to develop inclusivity for under-represented groups.

Sunderland AFC’s home match against Swansea City on Saturday 24th February is the first of a series of dedicated matchdays aimed at making the Stadium of Light a place where everybody feels comfortable to watch and support their team.

February is LGBTQ+ History Month and SAFC and the Foundation of Light are working with Out North East on a number of activities to run throughout the day, which also falls on the EFL’s Rainbow Ball matchday.

There will be a number of stalls in the Beacon of Light Fan zone ahead of the game promoting Sunderland AFC supporters’ groups, Pride in Sunderland, and other LGBTQ+ community projects, including:

• Pride Action North

• BE Trans

• Report Out

• University of Sunderland

• Sunderland VSA

• Humankind

• Sunderland Sexual Health

• Rainbow Hub

• AKT

Pride Radio will also be in attendance getting vox pops and video content.

Sunderland AFC mascots Samson and Delilah will be wearing branded t-shirts, bringing more visibility to the campaign and there will be content shared on the big screens and throughout the matchday programme linked to the campaign.

The EFL and PUMA are also marking the weekend with their Rainbow Goals initiative. For every goal scored with the Rainbow Ball across the EFL from February 16-24, PUMA will make a donation to an LGBTQ+ Fans for Diversity Fund.

The fan zone will run from 12.30pm-2.30pm, Saturday 24 February.