DMU sports teams show their support during #DMUpride celebrations

University sports teams wore dedicated #DMUpride T-shirts to their matches this week to show their support for efforts to rid sport of homophobia.

De Montfort University Leicester (DMU) launched its first #DMUpride festival on Monday. More than 20 events are being staged throughout February to raise awareness of and celebrate the LGBT communities in DMU and across Leicester.



Sports teams from rugby to tennis and lacrosse to American football wore the special t-shirts emblazoned with #DMUpride in support of the month-long festival. You can see pictures of the teams on their Facebook pages: Women's Football American Football

DMU’s Vice-Chancellor Professor Dominic Shellard said: “DMU is one of the most diverse universities in the country and we see that as a real sign of strength and pride.

“This festival is a response to a desire to have a pride event that people can engage with, and sport is one of those areas where not enough players are out and proud.”

Carol Fitzpatrick, treasurer and player for women’s rugby, was one of those proudly wearing a T-shirt. She said: “I think it is important to support #DMUpride because everyone deserves to have equal rights and everyone deserves to feel safe.

“It’s also important that everyone is included regardless of their sexuality.”

Stephen Burrell, Vice-President Student Activities at De Montfort Students’ Union (DSU), said: “This is a brilliant opportunity to show support for #DMUpride. We have already had a few teams wearing them to training and sending in pictures to the DSU Facebook page.

“I think it is brilliant as it is a campaign run by both DMU and the students’ union, and is key to raising awareness of issues that people may not know about. It is a moment of unity and celebrates our diversity.”

The #DMUpride festival comes as DMU’s commitment to equality was recognised by LGBT campaigning and lobbying group Stonewall which placed the university as 75th overall in the table, which was published last month, and is the fourth highest-placed university in the UK.