The European Gay and Lesbian Sports Federation (EGLSF) has teamed up with the Pride Solidarity Campaign, supported by FARE, on a programme of LGBT inclusion & human rights during Euro 2012.

Clare Dimyon of the Pride Solidarity group has been in Ukraine since Kyiv Pride in early May, visiting Ukrainian LGBT communities in the four host cities of Kyiv, Karkhiv, Lviv and Donetsk.

In preparation for Euro 2012 Clare has been promoting Football v Homophobia , the international campaign against homophobia. Meanwhile, EGLSF has been preparing for the opening of Euro Pride House in Warsaw on Friday 8 June, as part of the Football for Equality initiative.

Euro Pride House is a space for all fans, players and football supporters during the Championships. Its focus is on the LGBT community but is open to anyone who wants to challenge homophobia in football.

During the tournament, the partners will be delivering two specific campaigns, ‘Wear a Rainbow at Euro 2012’ and ‘YOUR Euro Pride House’.

Wear A Rainbow at Euro 2012
Last month the horror of the attack on Svyatoslav Sheremet, at the first ever gay parade in Kiev came to light, sparking concerns over the safety of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgendered people in Ukraine as well as those attending Euro 2012 in Ukraine in June.

‘Wear a Rainbow at Euro 2012’ is a campaign to show solidarity with LGBT in Ukraine during the Euros. Anyone interested in challenging violence against LGBT in Europe can wear a silicone rainbow wristband to show support.

Wristbands will be available at Euro Pride House in Warsaw and from various venues in Ukraine and those not in Ukraine and Poland can join in with this simple act of solidarity.

YOUR Euro Pride House
This campaign aims to enable LGBT people in Ukraine to hold their own Euro Pride Houses in environments in which they feel safe. The Pride Solidarity Campaign is facilitating a range of ‘Euro Pride Houses’ in locations across Ukraine and supplying activists with Football v Homophobia leaflets, t shirts and, of course wristbands for the ‘Wear a Rainbow at Euro 2012 campaign.

The YOUR Euro Pride House campaign also enables other European LGBT people to engage in Euro Pride House. Obviously many LGBT players, fans & activists will be watching Euro 2012 matches in their own countries, and will not be making the trip to Poland or Ukraine.

The campaign will enable fans, wherever they are in Europe, to be a part of Euro Pride house, by printing out the Euro Pride House logo from the Facebook page and posting a photo of themselves and their friends/team mates celebrating Euro 2012 wherever they are in Europe.