England player Harry Kane’s long history as an LGBTQ+ ally
Harry Kane wearing the captain’s rainbow armband. (Rob Newell/Getty)
England captain and Bayern Munich striker Harry Kane has always been a staunch LGBTQ+ ally.
The 32-year-old footballer is leading England into their FIFA World Cup quarter-final game against Norway. Regarded as one of the best players in the world, having scored over 500 career goals for club and country, Kane is a star on the pitch.
However, when he’s not attempting to bring football home, Kane has a long history of LGBTQ+ allyship…
Harry Kane supported gay footballers
Kane has been a supportive force in the world of football towards gay players.
When teenage footballer Jake Daniels came out as gay, Kane congratulated him.
Kane posted to social media expressing support for Daniels. He wrote: “Massive credit to you [Daniels] and the way your friends, family, club, and captain have supported you. Football should be welcoming for everyone.”
Kane told England Football: “As we know, in football, it is not an easy environment to speak out so for Jake to do that, I thought it was incredibly brave and we need to support him as much as possible.
“I’m sure he got lots of love and support from fans, team-mates and managers, and for him to do that, maybe gives other young boys and girls watching sport and football the opportunity to feel more comfortable within themselves.
“It was a really important message he sent and I am sure if there are more players who do that, men or women, it will make a big impact, especially on the younger generation.”
Harry Kane wore the rainbow armband
Kane has repeatedly worn the OneLove and Pride armband during high-profile games.
He has worn the Pride captain armband while captaining England. Notably, it was on his bicep for England’s European Championship Round of 16 match against Germany in 2021.
Kane has been spotted wearing the rainbow armband in the years since. Espcially during June, Pride month, games.
Kane has also expressed his pride in wearing the armband. Kane posted on Instagram about wearing the symbol.
He shared: “I was proud to wear the LGBTQ+ armband a few weeks ago for Pride month as I also did against the same opponents Germany during the Euros.
“The armband from last summer is on display at @museumoflondon which is free to enter. Football is a game for everyone.”
Kane planned to wear the OneLove armband at Qatar 2022 but, amongst a series of anti-LGBTQ+ moves, FIFA banned the armband.
Kane expressed he was “disappointed” by the ban. “I said yesterday we wanted to wear it. That decision was taken out of my hands today.
“I turned up to the stadium with the armband that I wore and I was told I had to wear that [the official Fifa one]. It’s out of our control as players.
“I’m sure the FA and FIFA will continue those discussions but most importantly today we focused on the game and got a great result.”
Harry Kane supported Rainbow Laces
Kane has backed the Rainbow Laces campaign. The campaign, alongside the rainbow-coloured armbands, encourages discussing the experiences and issues of players and fans from the LGBTQ+ community.
Kane said he believes it’s “really important” for the FA and England to be supporting the Rainbow Laces campaign.
“Especially in recent years, we have seen more and more how much of an influence we can have around the world. Football is such a worldwide sport, watched by millions and millions of people so anything we can do to come together to help is really important.
“We have been supporting it for a number of years and it is important that we continue to support it and help it grow as much as we can.
“I think it is a really important thing that we are doing and the more people that we can get behind it and supporting it, the more we can really make a difference.”
Though Kane is adamant that more needs to be done to support the LGBTQ+ community in football. “Talking about it and having the Rainbow Laces campaign will only help that.”
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