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PETER WALSH
Last updated: 20/02/2010 12:23:00
Article:
The niece of tragic former Norwich City star has given her backing to a campaign to kick homophobia out of football by appearing at an event in the city - on what would have been her uncle's 49th birthday.
Justin Fashanu's niece Amal with Darren Ollerton at The Forum for the Justin Campaign
Justin Fashanu, a former England U21 star who scored 40 goals for the Canaries in 103 appearances for the club between 1979 and 1981, battled against homophobia, prejudice, and discrimination throughout his career until his life came to a tragic end in 1998 when he committed suicide in a garage in Shoreditch, east London.
But the life and times of Fashanu were celebrated in pictures and in print yesterday at a Football v Homophobia exhibition held at the Forum.
The exhibition was part of an initiative launched by the Justin Campaign, which was set up in honour of Fashanu in a bid to challenge stereotypes and misconceptions that exist around gay men in football, and was attended by the soccer star's niece Amal Fashanu.
Amal, 21, a student at Brunel University in west London where she is studying for a degree in media and communication studies, said she was touched that her uncle's life was being remembered in this way.
She said: “I'm very touched by the fact that some people are interested in my uncle. It's his birthday and it's been very helpful to know that other people are suffering his loss. He's my uncle, my family, but I feel very touched other people are interested.
“I feel very, very proud. I can't believe that there are people doing this and other people who are or were in his position feel that this campaign can help them and move things forward.”
The Justin Campaign comes to The Forum.
Ms Fashanu, who is also an aspiring model and singer, said that although she was very young when her uncle died, she still had fond memories of him.
She said: “I was a girl and wasn't that interested in football. I've seen him on TV and knew that he was talented. He died when I was very young. He personally was the best uncle anyone could have - he was funny, happy, a very special person to anyone that met him. I was very, very fortunate. He was a very, very special person.”
Ms Fashanu said she hoped the Justin Campaign and its Football v Homophobia initiative would help one day achieve its goal of getting gay men and women accepted and added that her uncle would have been very proud.
She said: “It's a long road but I still feel that change can come. He would be up there looking down and thinking: 'I did something good and because of me many other people are actually happy'.”
Jason Hall, a founder of the Justin Campaign, said he was delighted Ms Fashanu could be at yesterday's event which was organised as part of a bid to “galvanise efforts against homophobia in football” and featured a series of other events in the UK and abroad.
He said: “It's about getting the message about that it's unacceptable what's happening within football and the world of sport as a whole. People just need education - it's wrong, there's no debate homophobia is wrong.”
To find out more about the Justin Campaign or how you can get involved, log onto www.justincampaign.co.uk
There is a video associated with this article
Last updated at 18:49 GMT, Friday, 19 February 2010
Article:
A campaign against homophobia in football has been launched in Norwich, inspired by Britain's only openly gay professional player.
The Justin Campaign is named after Justin Fashanu who was raised by foster parents in Norfolk and killed himself in 1998, a few years after he came out.
"I think homophobia is entrenched in football," said Darren Ollerton, campaign director.
Justin Fashanu played for Norwich City between 1978 and 1981.
11.23AM Fri Feb 19 2010
There is a video associated with this article
Donovan Blake
Article:
An international campaign has been launched that is aimed at kicking homophobia out of football.
Former Norwich star Justin Fashanu remains the only professional footballer who ever came out and admitted he was gay. Twenty years on the city where he made his name is at the forefront of a new effort to drive prejudice out of the game.
By: Donovan Blake
JONATHAN REDHEAD
Last updated: 17/02/2010 12:59:00
Article:
This Friday would have been Justin Fashanu's 49th birthday.
The prodigiously talented young forward should be remembered for his skills on the pitch and his goals, or in particular, that goal.
Even if you weren't at Carrow Road on February 9, 1980, then everybody has seen the stupendous goal Norwich City striker Fashanu scored against the then mighty Liverpool and the famous arm-aloft celebration that followed.
The left-footed strike was made Match of the Day's Goal of the Season from one of the greatest games at Carrow Road, and indeed in the top-flight, in living memory.
The goal, and the skill involved, went some way to making his name, securing Fashanu's £1m move from the Canaries to Nottingham Forest in 1981.
But from there, things didn't pan out the way they could have, and perhaps should have, for the young centre forward - an old Barnado's kid who became a Norwich City Hall of Fame member.
Spells in footballing backwaters followed and now Fashanu is often remembered less for the on-field highlights, and more for the fact that he was the first professional footballer in England to openly admit he was gay.
The former England Under-21 star battled against homophobia, prejudice and discrimination throughout his chequered career, and his life came to a tragic end in 1998 when he committed suicide in a garage in Shoreditch, east London.
However, his contribution to the game has not been forgotten and on Friday, a special exhibition takes place at The Forum, in Norwich city centre celebrating the life and times of Fashanu, who often lit up Carrow Road during his 103 appearances and 40 goals for City between 1979 and 1981.
The exhibition is part of the Football v Homophobia initiative launched by the Justin Campaign, and his niece, Amal Fashanu, will be on hand to talk to people and tell his story, before a football competition takes place at Carrow Park, next to the football ground.
The Justin Campaign was set up in honour of Fashanu in a bid to 'challenge the stereotypes and misconceptions that exist around gay men in football and work towards a future where the visibility of gay and bisexual men in professional football are both accepted and celebrated'.
Events are planned for right across the world on Friday, but the main focus will be in this city, where Fashanu first made the grade more than 30 years ago.
However, the group has its work cut out.
To this day, homosexuality is probably the biggest taboo left in the 'beautiful' game.
The on-going battles against racism and sexism in football have had some successes, but gay footballers, Fashanu aside, have never found their voice.
The Football Association are among those organisations struggling to come up with an answer, let alone a solution to the problem.
They postponed the release of a controversial anti-homophobia advert because they want to conduct further 'consultation' about its hard-hitting nature, before the video was leaked out anyway. It's a decision which has left many groups, including the Justin Campaign, less than impressed. Now they want to use the launch of the Football v Homophobia initiative on Friday to fight the prejudices in the game at all levels - and believe Fashanu's first stamping ground is the best place for it.
“It's a common misconception that gay people don't like football, don't play football, can't play football which is homophobic in itself,” said Darren Ollerton of the Justin Campaign.
“This misconception we want to put to rest by using Football v Homophobia as a vehicle to do that.
“We've got events confirmed in Washington DC, in Mexico, in Spain, in France, in Germany, so I think the power behind it is that people get to grasp how much of a gay following for football is out there and in doing that I think it's making people wake up to the fact this stereotyping and this one shoe fits all scenario isn't necessarily the case.”
Ollerton said while the organisation 'knows' of gay footballers in the top-flight, the focus is not about outing them.
“It's not something we squarely focus on,” he said.
“I don't think the environment of football, especially on the terraces has changed at all and at an executive level as well.
“I think we're naïve if we think this is just a fans problem, it isn't.
“Homophobia is entrenched in football right up the executive level. Whether that's changed in 10 years I'm not sure, I think a football player would get as much grief as Justin Fashanu did to be honest.
“I think that's been observed by professionals who have only been perceived as homosexual.
“If it's a top-flight football player, and we know they're out there. John Amaechi (former NBA is came out) knows a number of players, (publicist) Max Clifford has openly stated he knows a player and advised him not to come out, so we know they're out there. But if a top-flight player came out, what it would do I think, would really challenge's people ideals and stereotypes about gay people.
“Gay people aren't always easy to identify. They don't always fit the mould and I think that's what we need from sports people is to be able to break that mould.
“I think the big thing with fans is they somehow see the presence of gay people in their game as a threat to their sport or their macho ideal and I think in time we can show the fans gay people like football and are involved in football and it should be celebrated.”
Ollerton says the campaign has received 'fantastic' support from the club, and rightly so. The Justin Campaign will also sponsor Fashanu's photo in the Canaries Hall of Fame.
And maybe, with enough support, their campaign will ensure the life and career of another gay footballer - at Norwich City or any other club - is not tarnished and destroyed by hatred and prejudice.
For more on the Football v Homophobia initiative, go to www.justin campaign.co.uk
MARY HAMILTON
Last updated: 16/02/2010 14:18:00
Article:
Footballers to be made welcome with scarves
Roy Blower and Michelle Savage at the Let's Knit Homophobia Out of Football event in Norwich.
Knitting volunteers and a city councillor turned out yesterday to help make football scarves for a visiting team with a difference.
Long-time and first-time knitters are working together to knit pink and black scarves for the Justin Allstars, who will visit Norwich from Brighton on Friday to launch the international Football v Homophobia campaign.
Well-known City fan Roy Blower, president of the Norwich City Independent Supporters' Association, went along to the Forum to learn how to turn a stitch and support the campaign.
“I have never knitted before, but there is a first time for everything,” he said. “It's a good cause.
“We have had problems with racism in football, and I would like to see all discrimination banned and to help open people's minds.”
Community filmmaker Michelle Savage, who also chairs the Norwich Pride collective, said she hoped the scarves would help the Allstars feel at home - and that a few would be taken home after the match.
She is pictured giving some knitting tips to Mr Blower.
Two teams of Norwich City supporters will take on the visiting teams at Carrow Park on Friday at 7pm, after a day of events to mark the Football v Homophobia launch.
The event falls on the birthday of Norwich City star Justin Fashanu, who committed suicide in 1998.
He is still the only professional footballer to come out as gay.
Norwich City chief executive David McNally will speak at the game, and the matches will be kicked off by Norwich MPs Charles Clarke and Chloe Smith, and Justin's niece Amal Fashanu.
Ü If you would like to help knit Allstars scarves, contact Michelle Savage on 07985 409873.
Ü To find out more about the campaign visit www.thejustincampaign.com.
photo:bill smith
A rainbow flag - the international symbol of the gay community - is to be hoisted above some of Norfolk's most visited buildings in February.
The flag will fly at such places as City Hall, County Hall and Norwich Castle for Norfolk's first Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transexual History Month.
A programme of events including club and comedy nights, workshops and talks will be staged each day in February.
It's hoped the festival will give more understanding of the gay community.
While it's the first time that the county has hosted its own LGBT History Month, the festival has run nationally since 2005 after the idea was adopted from America.
Organisers have filled the event's diary quickly, considering they only had their first meeting at the start of December 2009.
"We had an empty calendar at the first meeting and we set ourselves the task of filling it," said Michelle Savage, who has co-ordinated the festival's steering group and is chair of Norwich Pride 2010.
Highlights include comedy with Clare Summerskill at The Garage, Norwich, a workshop on gay representation in the local press at the city's Castle pub and the chance to talk to people from the Living Library project at the Tea Lounge, Norwich.
"We're very proud that so many groups have come forward to do their thing," said Michelle.
"We're especially proud that there's something for people of all ages and abilities."
VICTORIA LEGGETT
29 January 2010
Article:
A rainbow flag will be flown across north Norfolk this month to celebrate the area's lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community.
The annual LGBT History Month will be launched at 10am on Monday as North Norfolk District Council joins authorities across the country raising the multi-coloured flag at its Cromer office.
Throughout the February, events will be held across Norfolk to mark and celebrate the lives of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people.
On February 23, north Norfolk will host a Pride Poetry and Supper evening at Virginia Court, Cromer.
Members of the Norwich Pride Collection will talk about their experiences organising Norfolk's first Pride celebrations, which took place last year, and North Norfolk Pride 2010.
On Thursday Voluntary Norfolk will also host an event as part of the celebrations with an Only Gay in the Village workshop in Neatishead.
Organisations including the police, Age Concern and The Matthew Project will get together from 9am to 1pm to discuss the LGBT community in rural areas and how they can better meet and understand their needs.
In Norfolk, homophobic harassment and abuse represents a high proportion of all hate incidents and crime reported to police.
Steve Blatch, strategic director of NNDC, said LGBT History Month was about replacing ignorance and discrimination with knowledge and understanding.
He said: “The council is committed to promoting equality and in working with partners and local communities to make north Norfolk a safe and inclusive place where everyone can feel comfortable being themselves without fear of prejudice.”
To book a place at the Pride Poetry and Supper evening, call 01263 512398. Tickets are £5.
To find out more about Voluntary Norfolk's workshop, call Jonny Wood on 01263 516018 or email north@voluntarynorfolk.org.uk.
The Chairman of Norfolk County Council will be raising a rainbow flag at County Hall next week, to mark the start of Lesbian Gay Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) History Month 2010 in Norfolk.
The raising of the flag will also launch the Council's new LGBT staff group, a partnership project with the Norfolk & Waveney Mental Health Trust.
The rainbow flag is an international symbol of LGBT pride.
Councillor Shelagh Gurney, Chairman of Norfolk County Council, “Delivering excellent services in Norfolk means that every resident can be sure they will be treated fairly and with respect at all times. Recognising the contributions of our communities through education and history is important”.
LGBT History Month is a national event which takes place every year in February. It celebrates the lives and achievements of people who identify as LGBT. Many Norfolk residents and volunteers have worked hard to organise a range of free events in Norfolk. For more details, please visit: www.norwichpride.org.uk
For further information
Jemma Thake, Communications officer, 01603 222972 or jemma.thake@norfolk.gov.uk
