Former German international and LGBT rights activist Thomas Hitzlsperger will be joining the Fans v Homophobia conference, next Sunday (15 February), in Manchester, to help discuss the latest issues in LGBT inclusion in football.

Hitzlsperger, who in January 2014 became the highest profile player to reveal he is gay, will participate in a Q&A session during the opening plenary, which will also feature the Football v Homophobia (FvH) director Lou Englefield and the British journalist, known for her work on the transgender experience, Juliet Jacques.

The initiative will be strengthening Hitzlsperger's collaboration with Fare in challenging homophobia in football. In September 2014, the former Premier League, Serie A and Bundesliga player participated in the Fare Football People video addressing discrimination and homophobia in the sport through his personal experience.

The conference, organised by FvH with the support of Fare, #PrideInFootball, Football Supporters’ Federation, Kick it Out and the Gay Football Supporters Network, will comprise six different workshops on topics including: campaigning against homophobia, setting up an LGBT fan group, Fans v Transphobia and reporting homophobia.

At the end of the event, fans will be given the opportunity to pose their questions to a panel of representatives from the anti-homophobia movement.

The Fans v Homophobia conference, organised as part of the FvH month of action, is providing an opportunity for football fans to come together and promote the supporters’ involvement in campaigning against LGBT-phobia and making the game more inclusive.

The conference is free and open to every one to attend. To secure a place you will need to register here.