Put an end to homophobia in sport too

Homophobia and transphobia are a reality in Switzerland. Every day, people are subjected to verbal, physical or psychological abuse due to their gender. There are no statistics on this matter, but all indications are that the number of people affected in the sporting world is comparable to the numbers for society as a whole.

Why should it be any different?

It has nevertheless been observed that sexual orientation and gender identity are often taboo subjects in sport and that discrimination against LGBTIQ people (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex and queer) remains a common practice that dictates their choices in terms of the sporting disciplines chosen or pushes many members of this community to conceal their sexual orientation and their gender identity and expression.

It is against this backdrop and at the proposal of Sami Kanaan, Administrative Councillor of the City of Geneva, that the Swiss Association of Sports Services and Swiss Olympic decided to implement an awareness campaign intended to combat ignorance, sexism, homophobia and transphobia and to promote awareness of this problem, respect for others and, more generally speaking, tolerance. This campaign has been relaunched in the sports facilities of the City of Geneva in order to reiterate the tenets of the code of sports ethics: Treat all people equally. Nationality, sex, age, sexual orientation, social background, religious and political preferences do not represent any form of disadvantage.