Last weekend, the club alongside our LGBTQ+ supporters’ group, GayGooners, celebrated Pride by participating in a series of events, culminating in the Pride In London Parade, with the highlights available to view above.
After their open-top, double-decker float received a special send off from Mikel Arteta and some of our men’s first-team squad, the GayGooners partied alongside club colleagues and Arsenal Women’s players Jen Beattie, Jordan Nobbs and Caitlin Foord, as they made their way through the packed, colourful streets to soak up the festivities.
Things had kicked off a couple of days earlier with an insightful panel discussion at Emirates Stadium on the importance of improving connections between football clubs and LGBTQ+ supporters, before celebrating the return of the capital's annual parade in style.
Speaking about the celebrations, our Chief Executive Officer, Vinai Venkatesham, said: “We have a proud history of social inclusion at Arsenal, and we want to build on this pioneering spirit to ensure we continue to cultivate an environment where everybody feels welcome, and everyone can be themselves.
“I challenge the Arsenal family to be more courageous than ever as we aim to turn our support for the LGBTQ+ community into a year-round commitment of ‘Pride everyday’. We want to create an always on approach to allyship that means we’re living and breathing our philosophy and turning words into action.”
Speaking about their weekend, the GayGooners added: “We are incredibly proud of the work we have done with Arsenal over the years. It’s fantastic to support a club that is aligned with our values and keeps showing support to the LGBTQ+ community.
“We always enjoy the Pride in London Parade, but this year was extra special. The reception we got from our fellow partygoers was overwhelmingly positive and we are looking forward to building on the platform we’ve grown with Arsenal as we continue to promote equality and diversity to make football a safe space for everyone.”
Arsenal centre-back Jen Beattie said: “What an amazing weekend! I absolutely loved being part of the Pride in London Parade and it was incredible to meet so many lovely people along the way.
“I’m so proud to represent Arsenal and support the club’s ambitions to create an inclusive environment for all. It’s vital that football clubs use their reach and influence to promote equal rights. Everyone should feel comfortable being their true selves and we have a responsibility to ensure we create a safe and welcoming environment that enables this.”
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