England and Wales Cricket Board aim to bring LGBT community into cricket

The England and Wales Cricket Board have joined the LGBT movement in some colourful fashion. The forthcoming games in the NatWest T20 Blast and the Kia Super League in England will be provided with a ‘Rainbow Stumps’ makeover on all corners of the grounds, with all players, umpires and even the commentators supporting the noble initiative to welcome people from LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) community into cricket.

Grace cricket club is more than 20 years old and was developed to encourage the inclusion of the LGBT community into cricket, and is working with the ‘Stonewall Campaign’. The club faced several backlash moments with chants of homophobic reference.

Grace’s press and publicity officer Chris Sherwood said as per the quotes on Hindustan Times, “This is such an important first step being taken by the ECB and Sky Sports towards culture change in cricket. As the world’s first LGBT cricket club, there is no question to us that there is still a great need for action. Just a few weeks ago, a Facebook campaign aimed at cricket fans to promote our club attracted almost exclusively homophobic responses. It’s no surprise, therefore, that we welcome this campaign, as we welcome people, with open arms.”

The ground is expected to get a makeover, rainbow flags will be part of the guard of honour in every game, and apart from that, the stumps will also be painted with similar colours.

Grace’s press and publicity officer Chris Sherwood said, “This is such an important first step being taken by the ECB and Sky Sports towards culture change in cricket. As the world’s first LGBT cricket club, there is no question to us that there is still a great need for action. Just a few weeks ago, a Facebook campaign aimed at cricket fans to promote our club attracted almost exclusively homophobic responses. It’s no surprise, therefore, that we welcome this campaign, as we welcome people, with open arms.”