A toxic culture still persists in soccer, where homophobic chants and jokes are seen as a “normal” part of the stands. And homophobic attitudes among some fans are often linked not so much to soccer itself as to the culture surrounding it. Historically, the stands have been associated with a rigid model of “masculinity,” where any deviation from it was ridiculed.
Against this backdrop, it is particularly striking to see how alternatives have begun to emerge within soccer culture itself. For example, in 2013, fans of the London club Arsenal formed a group called Gay Gooners. This community was created by the club's LGBT fans and their allies to show that a love of soccer and being open about one's identity are perfectly compatible.
Gay Gooners — is the official LGBT supporters' group for London's Arsenal. It became the first official LGBT fan group in the United Kingdom, which is recognized as a professional soccer club and is currently the largest in the world. Doberman Media tells the story of the “pioneers” who got the soccer world talking about inclusivity—and why their biggest dream is for their organization to one day become unnecessary.
Table of Contents
History of Origins: From Pubs to Official Status
The movement traces its roots back to the 1980s. Starting in October 1989, a group of gay soccer fans (mostly Arsenal supporters) began meeting at the Salmon and Compass pub in Islington, which led to the creation of the “Gay Football Supporters Network” (GFSN). In the 1990s, these friends and fans regularly gathered at The Gunners and the Bank of Friendship pubs, organizing trips to away games together.
The official history of the Gay Gooners began in the 2010–11 season, when Arsenal announced that it was seeking an LGBT representative for the Supporters' Forum. The position was filled by Stuart Selby, who later secured the support of the club's leadership, including Executive Director Ivan Gazidis. The group was officially launched February 16, 2013. On that day, a rainbow version of the club's logo appeared on the billboards at Emirates Stadium for the first time.
Mission and Social Initiatives
The main goal of Gay Gooners is to combat homophobia in soccer and to create a safe, inclusive space for fans.
Social Interaction Organizing regular pre-game get-togethers (for example, at the Rocket bar on Holloway Road) and group trips to away games, including European tours.
Public Events In June 2014, the Gay Gooners became the first LGBT fan group to participate in the London Pride parade. Since then, participating in Pride in London has become an annual tradition, with players and the Gunnersaurus mascot sometimes joining in.
Combating Discrimination Collaboration with Organizations Rainbow Laces, Stonewall and Kick It Out to raise awareness about homophobia, biphobia, and transphobia.
Political Activism The group openly opposes human rights violations; for example, it staged a protest in front of the Qatari embassy during the 2022 World Cup.
The Club's Global Impact and Support
As of February 2023, the organization had 1,370 members in 51 countries around the world. The success of the Gay Gooners has inspired fans of other British clubs (such as Tottenham, Manchester City, and Liverpool) to form their own official LGBT communities.
Arsenal's management actively supports the group. Executive Director Vinay Venkatesham called them "fearless fighters"...who embody the club's values. Head coach Mikel Arteta also met with the participants in person before the parades.
For the players, the existence of such a group is also important. The captain of the women's team Katie McCabe She noted that the Gay Gooners banner at the stadium helped her feel accepted:
"I thought, 'Okay, if I'm here to be an open lesbian, that's totally fine.' That was an important factor when Arsenal wanted to sign me.
Contemporary Challenges and a Paradoxical Goal
Despite their status as “pioneers” and the club’s support, members of the movement still face attacks. In 2023, when Arsenal retweeted a post by one of the Gay Gooners members, the comments section was flooded with trolls and haters. The club had to officially announce a “zero-tolerance” policy and block all the haters’ accounts.
Gay Gooners also takes a firm stance on international issues. For example, in 2022, they staged a protest outside the Qatari embassy in London to draw attention to the violation of LGBT rights in the World Cup host country.
Fun fact: According to British media reports, Andrei Arshavin is at Arsenal, At first, he earned about 3.64 million euros a year (or, more precisely, 70,000 pounds a week), and after his contract was extended, his earnings rose to 4.87 million. Half of that amount went toward taxes, so Arshavin's "take-home" pay in England ended up being lower than it had been in Russia.
"Our goal is to one day cease to exist."
Gay Gooners have a paradoxical long-term goal: cease to exist. Jacob Jefferson, the group's campaign officer, explains it this way: The community dreams of a time when soccer will be so inclusive and safe for everyone...so that the need for special "protective" groups will simply disappear.
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However, as the participants themselves admit, that moment is still a long way off. For now, they continue to display their rainbow banner at every Arsenal match, reminding everyone that soccer belongs to everyone.
Sources
Arsenal FC's official website — an article marking the 10th anniversary, featuring an interview with Stuart Selby: https://www.arsenal.com/news/gaygooners-has-changed-my-life-so-many-ways (февраль 2023)
The Gay Gooners page on Arsenal.com: https://www.arsenal.com/fanzone/gay-gooners
Wikipedia (well-documented): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gay_Gooners
Metro UK — 10th Anniversary Article: https://metro.co.uk/2023/02/16/gay-gooners-celebrate-10-years-as-uks-first-lgbt-football-supporters-club-18288520/
Islington Gazette (2017, regarding its status as the largest group): https://www.islingtongazette.co.uk/news/21233503.arsenal-gay-gooners-biggest-lgbt-football-supporters-club-world
The band's official Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gaygooners/
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