Mascot’s Moonchester and Moonbeam kicked off the celebrations at the Manchester Parade on Saturday, as they joined The Gay Football Supporters’ Network (GFSN) parade with an army of UK LGBT football organisations.
GFSN’s main goal is to promote the support and participation of LGB&T people in football. With the mascots delivering high fives to passersby, they took to the streets with Football Vs Homophobia, MCFC’s LGBT Supporters Club, Canal Street Blues and local football team, Village FC.
Hundreds of people then descended to the football hub where City in the Community coaches were ready and waiting to deliver football activities for all.
Supporting our rich LGBT community is important to the Club and Mike Green, Head of City in the Community at Manchester City Football Club commented: “Manchester City is committed to promoting equality of opportunity, diversity and respect across all its activities. From the programmes we deliver in the community to the way the Club operates, we continue to ensure equality is embedded within the heart of the Club.”
Ed Connell, GFSN Chair says:
“We were excited to lead the largest ever football group at a Pride parade and it was a great weekend of events which helped raise the profile of LGBT football in the UK and beyond. The support of major clubs like Manchester City FC is very welcome and a superb way to bring our message of inclusion to wide audience.”
John Browne, Canal Street Blues Chair says:
“With fantastic help from the Club, we’ve created an official City LGBT supporters’ group very quickly and we’re keen to celebrate Pride and show that MCFC is a very friendly and inclusive place for all kinds of fans.”
