CARDIFF Devils have announced a new partnership with LGBT Sport Cymru to support athletes of different genders and sexual orientation.
The club said the move is about “ensuring equality, respect and safety for all athletes, without regard to their sexual orientation and/or gender identity,” and will be marked by a Pride night on Sunday when the Devils host Belfast at Ice Arena Wales.
The players will be wearing special pride jerseys to commemorate the occasion and these will be auctioned off after the game.
Chair of LBGT Sport Cymru Michelle Daltry spoke about the partnership: “We are delighted to be working in partnership with Cardiff Devils and a huge thank you to the club and membership for all their support.
“LGBT Sport Cymru are striving for a society where sexuality or gender identity is irrelevant to a person’s engagement in sport of physical activity.
“To have clubs like the Cardiff Devils help to share this message provides such a huge opportunity for the LGBT community for which we are incredibly grateful.”
Devils GM Todd Kelman said: “As an organisation we are very proud to partner with LGBT Sport Cymru.
“Hockey is for everyone and we work hard to ensure everyone feels welcome at Ice Arena Wales on game night.
“With this partnership we are laying the foundation for a long and successful partnership that promotes the key message that sport is for everyone.”
This pride night will coincide with Stonewall’s Rainbow Laces week, which aims to “make sport everyone’s game”.
Fans have been posting images of themselves sporting the charity’s iconic rainbow laces in support of LGBT.
All set ?️??️? #HockeyIsForEveryone pic.twitter.com/3LQc0MMT5Q
— Rachael H ? (@redredraz) November 20, 2017
Andrew Hotham will take on the role of the official ambassador for the partnership between the Devils and LGBT Sport Cymru and will work closely with the organisation to further promote this important message: “I’m delighted to take on this ambassador role,
“LGBT Sport Cymru are doing some amazing work and it’s a cause that is very close to my heart and that I think is very important to promote.”
You can show your support for the Devils and the LGBT community by buying rainbow laces here.