Abundance. There is always more safety in numbers, and this is no exception. The sheer volume of players that are open about being queer or in relationships with other women helps foster a safe and inclusive environment. The positive repercussion on supporters also exists where seeing so many players comfortably out implicitly gives the impression that it is not just an anomaly to be a lesbian or bisexual sportsperson, but rather it is the norm- something also crucial for acceptance and normalisation.
Normalcy. For most players, due to limited media attention and fan scrutiny, there is no need to release statements about coming out, rather they can just naturally live their private lives by posting publicly on social media. In the majority of cases, footballers are just women living their lives unafraid to also post about their sexuality or their girlfriends, whether they be teammates, opponents or people outside of the footballing world. Making it such an ordinary thing to mention what it’s like to play with your girlfriend in an interview, like Vivianne Miedema did in the run up to the World Cup; or Amy Turner and Angharad James, two footballers from opposing teams, talking about their joint-effort fundraising event; or a player like Dutch international Merel Van Dongen proudly mentioning in an Instagram live that ‘I’m a lesbian’, shows how much of an impact can be had by saying or doing so little.
Visibility. The presence of these women living open and unapologetically queer lives on social media, in interviews and in person creates an enormous sense of validation both for other players coming to terms with their sexuality and fans in similar situations. The unapologetic visibility is not something that supersedes the importance of their careers, yet its casual presence is unmatched.
Acceptance. Whether it be other players, fans, or media coverage, players’ sexualities are predominantly just accepted and treated with complete normality A monumental, and substantially overlooked, example of this was during a 2019 World Cup game when Norways’ Isabell Herlovsen scored a penalty and immediately went right over to the stands, in the middle of the match with everyone watching, to celebrate by kissing her wife. It was a moment that showed just how accepting the women’s football culture is- both of themselves and of each other.
All of these values and the openness shown by on the pitch players serves as a direct reflection of the values and openness of the supporters in the stands. It is the harmonious combination of all four pillars that have created such a welcoming environment for LGBTQ+ people involved in women’s football. However, the question was recently posed at a Football v Homophobia panel by Chelsea captain and Swedish international player Magdalena Eriksson about whether this atmosphere may be in danger of changing and becoming more closed. With greater exposure and benefits of women’s football also comes greater unwanted attention.
Men’s football fans, notorious for their unruly behaviour and loud vitriol at matches, are beginning to attend the women’s team’s matches of the club they support. In many cases, the payment for having increased attendance revenue is an influx of fans who are accustomed to hurling abuse at players, and many of who have traditionally held homophobic stances. Therefore, players may begin to become more guarded in what they post and who they post it with, as well as how openly they talk about their sexuality if the fear of facing abuse or unwanted attention from a section of fans coming over from the men’s teams increases.
Another reason why increased exposure may cause detrimental impacts to the four pillars of openness is players understandably holding back information about their private lives so that they cannot be scrutinised for their actions off the pitch. In the case of Eriksson, she has noticed how most reports are always keen to ask questions about her girlfriend and her sexuality since that viral World Cup picture. Although she is keenly aware and humbled by the impact her words on such issues can have on people struggling to come to terms with her identity, she is first and foremost a football player. Many other players may fear that making their sexual orientation public could result in a deviation of focus from their ability on the pitch to their personal life off it.
It can also not be argued that women’s football over the past years has been the perfect safe place for the LGBTQ+ community in an intersectional way. Physical presentation has unfortunately played a large factor in the wider acceptance and recognition of some players and not others. A key example of this is Nilla Fischer, Eriksson’s teammate on the national team who has been married to Maria Fischer since 2013. She however has not had such an overwhelmingly positive response having faced much more abuse since she came out, with the most shocking example of this being when a statue erected in Sweden to honor her achievements was completely destroyed during the 2019 World Cup. Whilst the fact that she is a woman in a sport dominated by men would have been a large factor in motivating the hate crime, her more stereotypically masculine presentation as a gay woman and LGBTQ+ rights activist also contributed greatly to this act of abuse and homophobia.
Issues of femininity and ‘passing privilege’ may be intensified in the coming years. Alisha Lehmann, a Swiss international who plays for West Ham has a staggering social media presence with over a million followers on Instagram. She regularly posts photos with her Chelsea rival and girlfriend Ramona Bachmann and has always been open about their relationship. However, her traditionally feminine presentation arguably has a lot to do with her social media success. With most of the comments being from men sexualising either her appearance or her relationship the question remains about whether discrimination doesn’t only come in the form of physical and verbal abuse but also in more subtle ways such as ‘feminine’ presenting LGBTG+ women being regarded by men as acting a certain way for their own gratification. They also obtained a Swiss Coca Cola sponsorship branded under a Love is Love campaign, which most likely would not have been signed if they had been a less aesthetically attractive, more ‘masculine’ presenting couple. Increased visibility is also leading to more sponsorship deals and the way commercialisation works means that feminisation will be the main aspect brands will be looking for, intensifying the privilege for players that better fit the standards whilst perhaps forcing those who don’t to not be so open or visible.
In general, most of the backlash that both already exists and may be on its way stems from people outside of the closer-knit women’s football fanbase. This fact provides much hope for the future. As a considerably small community, women’s football supporters and players alike will no doubt continue to band together and fight for inclusivity which the women’s game has already empowered them with. Increased exposure may come with its drawbacks in the years to follow, but the firm establishment of the four pillars of openness bonding the game with the LGBTQ+ community will undoubtedly make sure that women’s football remains a uniquely safe plus welcoming space for queer players and fans alike.