Rainbow Laces campaigner Stonewall release Jordan Henderson statement as Liverpool captain closes in on Saudi Arabia transfer
The organisation behind the Premier League's Rainbow Laces campaign have thanked Jordan Henderson for his role in campaigning for equality but called on the midfielder to continue the fight despite his impending move to Saudi Arabia.
The 33-year-old left Liverpool's training base in Germany on Thursday morning as he edges towards a £350,000 per-week move to Saudi Pro League side Al-Ettifaq, where his former Anfield team-mate Steven Gerrard was recently appointed as manager.
The Reds captain has been a firm ally of the LGBTQ+ community over the last 10 years. However, his departure from Anfield would see him move to a country, Saudi Arabia, where same-sex marriage is illegal. It is also against the law to be transgender.
After both clubs agreed on an initial £12m deal for the midfielder, Robbie de Santos, the director of external affairs at Stonewall, told the ECHO that he hopes Henderson can continue his support of the community despite the controversies around a move to the Gulf state.
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“We are grateful to Jordan Henderson for using his platform to stand up for LGBTQ+ inclusion in sports and fitness, including by wearing our Rainbow Laces," said De Santos. "In the ten years since our campaign started, public attitudes towards LGBTQ+ people in sport have improved considerably, and this is thanks in no small part to bold allyship from athletes such as Henderson.
"We can’t deny the reality of lives for the LGBTQ+ community in Saudi Arabia, and we hope that Henderson continues his work to build towards a world where sport is everybody's game."
Henderson, who
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