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The launch of a short video advert aimed at tackling homophobia in football have been cancelled by the Football Association.

Sue Law, FA’s Head of Equality and Child Protection, has said that the Association have chosen to postpone the event in order to strengthen their anti-homophobia strategy by working more closely with their Tackling Homophobia Advisory Group and testing the film more widely. 

The Justin Campaign are saddened at the FA’s announcement of postponing the launch of their new video aimed at tackling homophobia in football. However after having the opportunity to read John Amaechi’s take on the content of the video; think that the FA have been wise in their decision to seek further consultation on the videos production and subsequent release.

Read more: Anti-Homophobia in Football Film Cancelled

Stonewall held the premiere of FIT at the Soho Curzon in London. FIT is a film being sent to every school to tackle homophobic bullying, it is the first of its kind.

The Mayor of London has welcomed the initiative. Boris Johnson said, "Homophobic bullying is not only distressing, it can have tragic consequences, so I am pleased to have been able to put funding into Stonewall’s new film for schools. I hope it will help to increase teachers' confidence to tackle the problem in secondary schools and this in turn will encourage young people to report incidents. This resource should go some way in fostering an environment in which homophobic bullying is recognised as being utterly unacceptable and doesn't occur in the first place.”

FIT is an intelligent, powerful and entertaining film. The storyline uses hip-hop, humour, colourful Adidas tracksuits and lively writing similar to Channel 4’s Skins to communicate with pupils in a way that makes it easy for them to engage with the issues raised. 

Read more: Boris Welcomes Anti-Homophobic Schools Film

The Justin Campaign, a campaign launched in memory of Justin Fashanu, the world’s first and only out gay professional football player; is to launch an international day opposing homophobia in football – Football vs Homophobia on February 19th 2010.

The days intention is to raise awareness of the prevalence of homophobia in the worlds favourite sport and to encourage national clubs to show their support for the cause by adopting the initiatives logo for the day and to include messages that support the cause and condemn the use of homophobic language and abuse in match day programmes.

This initiative comes to light just weeks after The Justin Campaign became part of a coalition with the TUC (trade union congress) the PFA (professional footballers association) KickItOut  (the FA’s equality and inclusion campaign) PrideSports (The UK’s only LGBT sports development company) & Schoolsout (an organisation fighting for LGBT equality in education) to take forward an independent campaign against homophobia in football. 

Read more: Campaign Against Homophobia in Football

Stonewall has publishes its Top 100 Employers 2010, showcasing Britain's best employers for gay staff.

It names IBM as the best place to work in 2010 for lesbian, gay and bisexual people. In second place is Hampshire Constabulary and Ernst & Young comes third.

Ernst & Young wins the award for Employee Network Group of the Year and Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust is named Most Improved Employer.

The Index is based on a range of key indicators which this year included the largest ever survey of lesbian, gay and bisexual employees, with over 7,000 participants. This consistently revealed that staff satisfaction levels were highest at the top ranking organisations in the Index. Gay staff working at the top 25 workplaces reported a satisfaction level almost 10 per cent higher than workplaces outside the Top 100. Staff were also more likely to disclose their sexual orientation in monitoring exercises at the highest ranking organisations.

This is the second time in four years that IBM has been named the most gay-friendly employer. Their success reflects the effectiveness of continual improvement as the minimum score to win a place on the 2010 Top 100 was ten per cent higher.

Read more: IBM tops list of gay-friendly employers

The Justin Campaign has commended Gareth Thomas after taking the risk and making his sexuality public knowledge. 

Gareth Thomas became the highest-profile British sportsman to reveal that he was gay last week.

Jason Hall Founding directory of The Justin Campaign said, “Gareth Thomas’s story of the struggle with his sexuality and his contemplation of suicide is sadly an all too real example of what LGBT people internationally experience as a result of widespread homophobia. It takes a player like this to make sports governing bodies realise that this is a very REAL problem with very REAL consequences. Here at The Justin Campaign we are very proud that Gareth Thomas has had the bravery to take this course of action, my feeling is that the world of football has a way to go until we witness a professional football player with the same confidence.” 

"Gareth’s courage and bravery sends out a very important message to the sporting industry and it’s supporters; it’s a common misconception that gay and bisexual men do not participate In sports and certainly don’t exist at a professional level. Gareth Thomas has proven all this to be incorrect and that gay/bi sportsmen can stand as equals next to their heterosexual counterparts."

Read more: Gareth Thomas Coming Out Commended