An ambassador from Just Like Us shares why visibility is so important in football
BY RUSH MITTAL, IMAGE BY STUDIO BRAZIL
This summer, as the sun beat down brutally on grassy pitches across Europe, something incredible happened. The UEFA Women’s Euros is more than just a tournament, it’s a movement of inclusivity and diversity.
With every passing 90 minutes of battling, we’ve watched the lasting impact of the game form, as if history were being made in front of our very eyes. It has been a celebration of inclusion, joy, community and unapologetic pride, and as we approach the nail-biting final, it feels more true than ever that this tournament isn’t just about goals and glory, it’s about belonging.
The Lionesses have previously been very open about the impact that winning the last Euros tournament in 2022 has had on women’s football in England, and their formidable Spanish opponents have expressed a need for similar growth for the sport in their own country, that they hope winning major titles will bring. If you identify as a woman, as queer, or if you are simply trying to push forward diversity in solidarity, it’s time to tune in.
Despite all the great memories I have of watching the men’s tournaments over the course of my childhood, I cannot ignore how consistently these tournaments have dragged their heels on LGBTQIA+ inclusion, while the women’s game runs miles ahead.
Openly queer players don’t hide in the shadows, they lead teams, wear the armband, and kiss their partners after full time proudly in celebration of who they are and what they have achieved. On the pitch, there’s strength and skill; off it, there’s softness, visibility, and solidarity. No posturing. No toxic locker-room culture. Just a space where being yourself isn’t political – it’s expected.
Football can feel intimidating to get into, especially as a new fan. There’s the packed match calendar, the flood of player names, injuries, off-season trades, and for club tournaments, a steady stream of drama. Add in the inevitable, tired gatekeeping (“Oh, you like football? What’s the offside rule then?”) and it’s enough to make anyone hesitate.
But the women’s game breaks down those barriers. It’s welcoming from the first whistle, whether you’re a casual viewer or a lifelong devotee. The atmosphere, even at smaller local matches, is electric with joy and support. It’s not just about the game, it’s about community, inclusivity, and showing up exactly as you are.
And it’s not just the pros. The grassroots game is exploding with colour, community, and queerness. Across cities and small towns, queer football clubs are popping up like wildflowers — Hackney Laces, Clapton CFC, Manchester Laces, Stonewall FC, TRUK United FC. These aren’t just training grounds; they’re sanctuaries. Places where trans, non-binary, and queer people kick a ball without fear of judgment, harassment, or side-eye.
For many of us queer folks, football wasn’t always safe growing up. A lot of us lost touch with the game that once brought us so much freedom, and for many today, the sport remains systemically unsafe. I remember when the changing rooms, once filled with laughter, became a tense experience. A pitch that once made me feel most like myself, became a symbol for why I was different to those around me.
When I think back to my happiest childhood moments, I am playing fiercely with my friends during lunch break in school – my gender, sexuality, or race did not matter in the slightest. I remember playing in grassy patches between walnut trees with my grandfather, who once broke his pinky finger diving to make a save. I only ever saw the game with unfiltered joy. This is why it hurts to see the men’s game ban rainbow armbands, or to hear homophobic rhetoric in the chants, or that trans women were banned from professional women’s football in the UK. The game still shuts the door on so many of us.
But, while not perfect, women’s football has always been different. It has always been at the forefront of change.
Players like Megan Rapinoe, Quinn, Casey Stoney, Jill Scott and many other players have been paving the way forward for inclusivity in the sport for YEARS. In the stands and in the squads, there’s a different energy. It’s not just tolerated to be queer; it’s normal. Celebrated, with muddy boots and bruised shins, we are celebrated.
That’s why this Women’s Euros has represented so much more than a scoreline, because for so many of us, this is a return to the joy we once knew. Or the joy we never had the chance to feel at all. Even if you’ve never kicked a ball in your life, there’s something deeply powerful about supporting a women’s team. You cheer not just for the players, but for what they represent: resilience, visibility, joy.
This year, with stadiums filling and coverage finally improving, there’s been a real moment happening. This Sunday’s final is going to be fast, fierce, and emotional. Not just because the football’s good (it is). But because it means something. Every save, every celebration, every rainbow armband – it matters.
Rush is an ambassador for Just Like Us, the LGBT+ young people’s charity. LGBT+ and 18 to 25? Sign up now!
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