Mojo on the Green will see a group of LGBT+ activists highlight that sport is for all at the European athletics championships
A group of LGBT+ activists are set to cover all the action from a premier athletics championship.
The lottery-funded Mojo On The Green project for the Year of Young People aims to ensure everyone is inspired by the upcoming European Championships, Glasgow 2018, to enjoy sport at all levels without fear of discrimination.
From Thursday 2 August to Sunday 12 August, young mobile journalists will be filming people will be interviewing athletes, officials and volunteers and covering a range of events at Pride House in Glasgow in their bid to promote a message of equality and inclusion. They are working with LEAP Sports Scotland, an organisation set up to work for greater inclusion for LGBTI people in sport and against homophobia, biphobia and transphobia in a sports context
The six-strong team of 18 to 25 year olds received training from Glasgow-based social enterprise Media Co-op in mobile journalism skills. Together they developed a social media strategy to encourage everyone to share the message of Sport for All on social media channels in a bid to fight discrimination and improve mental health among young people. The campaign will use #LGBTchampions18 on social media throughout the championships.
Final year journalism student Fraser Knight, 21, said: “Throughout my life I’ve not felt confident enough to take part in sports, because there is a fear attached to this as an LGBT+ person. It’s important to fight against the prejudices which cause this fear in order to better our community – and that’s what this project will do”
22-year old Jo Reid, who’s just graduated from Glasgow University, is excited about working on the project: “It’s really nice that young people are being given the responsibility and agency to promote and talk about issues that are important to us, especially during such a high-profile event. It can definitely highlight the fact that homophobia and trans-phobia exists and it’s showing people how to make a difference to Scotland’s LGBT community.”
Executive director for LEAP Sports Scotland Hugh Torrance said: “We are thrilled that the Mojo on the Green project will ensure that the voices of marginalised LGBTI young people are heard throughout the European Championships and beyond.”
Claire Dean, of Media Co-op, explained: “Mojo on the Green is all about giving young LGBT+ people a voice. Young activists participating in the project will learn new skills in mobile journalism, and using social media to get their message across.”
