ClubLiverpool FC supports Rainbow Laces campaign
Fans will see the recognisable Rainbow Laces branding when the Reds take on Manchester City at Anfield on Sunday (December 1), while Liverpool FC Women will show their support to the campaign on Wednesday December 11, when they face Everton at St Helens Stadium.
During the dedicated fixtures, both club captains will wear the rainbow armband and there will be Rainbow Laces matchday programme content, alongside branded LEDs, ball plinths, handshake boards and more to promote inclusion and celebrate that football is for all.
Fans attending the women's Merseyside derby at St Helens Stadium will be encouraged to bring their Pride flags and come 'rainbow ready' to have the opportunity to celebrate Rainbow Laces with live music, rainbow face painting, giveaways and an appearance from Mighty Red.
The Rainbow Laces campaign provides a platform to highlight the year-round equality, diversity and inclusion work that takes place in sport to support the LGBT+ community, from highlighting important issues that the community still faces, to education and the promotion of allyship.
LFC Foundation will host a Rainbow Laces-themed football tournament to celebrate football and inclusion with Mersey Marauders FC, Liverpool Trans & Enby FC and participants from LFC Foundation's LGBT+ adults football session. The event will welcome 30 players to Liverpool Aquatics Centre, the home of LFC Foundation's LGBT+ weekly sessions.
Rishi Jain, LFC's director of impact, said: "We are proud to once again be supporting Rainbow Laces through our club-wide Red Together initiative, which promotes equality, diversity and inclusion in everything we do.
"The Rainbow Laces campaign provides both a powerful and positive platform for the promotion of inclusion in football and more broadly in sport. We work hard throughout the year to ensure that everyone feels welcome at our club and encourage people to take part in or enjoy the sport we all love.
"Supporting positive dialogue and education continues to be an important focus for us alongside allyship, which plays a crucial role in driving the positive changes still needed to create a truly inclusive environment for all."
Fans wanting to show their colours at the upcoming Rainbow Laces dedicated fixtures can choose from a variety of items in LFC's Pride range, which is available to purchase in-store and online. A donation of the proceeds from sales of the LFC Pride range will be used to support local LGBT+ charities.
Earlier this year, LFC donated £15,000 raised from sales of its Pride retail range to The Michael Causer Foundation and The Young Person's Advisory Service (YPAS) to support their important work with the LGBT+ community across the Liverpool City Region.