Senedd members including First Minister Mark Drakeford have gathered in their Rainbow Laces to show solidarity with LGBT+ people in Qatar and raise awareness of the injustice faced by its residents year-round. Under Qatari laws, LGBT+ people are oppressed: same-sex relationships are criminalised, and trans people are forced to undergo conversion therapy clinics sponsored by the government, Stonewall reports. Many LGBT+ people suffer imprisonment and violence simply for being themselves, and in some cases, could even face the death penalty.
Two weeks before the tournament started, it was reported that an ambassador for the World Cup in Qatar described homosexuality as "damage in the mind", despite the country's Foreign Minister accusing negative media coverage about Qatar's human rights of "misinformation" - and saying the tournament would welcome everyone. Read more here.
And on Tuesday as the Red Wall filled the Ahmad bin Ali Stadium stadium in Qatar to watch Wales play their last match of the tournament, Stonewall has been filling a virtual ‘Proud Stadium’ with supporters of LGBT+ rights, coming together to shine a light on the injustices that LGBT+ communities face in Qatar and in many more countries around the world. The aim is to reach 80,000 people: the size of the Lusail Stadium in Qatar where the World Cup final will be held – and has already hit around 55,000.
READ MORE: The innovative LGBTQ+ virtual reality exhibition coming to Wales Millennium Centre
Rainbow Laces is the long-running Stonewall campaign to increase LGBT+ visibility in sports and shed light on building inclusive environments. Stonewall Cymru Director, Davinia Green has said: “It’s been amazing to see the effort of Welsh fans take a stand against injustice and show their support and solidarity of the LGBT+ community. We know that many have been concerned to hear about the appalling human rights injustices experienced by LGBT+ people in Qatar and other countries. We encourage everyone to sign up to our Proud Stadium campaign to show support of LGBT+ people and work together to effect change.”
The Welsh Government, which has committed to making Wales the most LGBT+ friendly nation in Europe, is soon to release its LGBT+ Action Plan, with an aim of embedding rights and anti-discrimination frameworks throughout public life in Wales.
Deputy Minister for Social Partnership, Hannah Blythyn said: “ We’re committed to making Wales the most LGBT+ friendly nation in Europe and as part of this, we have a responsibility to support the LGBT+ community at home and abroad. In too many places around the world, LGBT+ people are at risk of persecution, imprisonment and losing their lives simply for being who we are and for who we love. That’s why we stand together in solidarity supporting the Rainbow Laces campaign and continue to make the case for our values of equality and fairness.” More information about the Proud Stadium campaign can be found here.
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