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Casey Stoney and Kick It Out's Paul Mortimer on homophobia in women's football

England defender Stoney says LGBT discrimination 'not part of the game' in women's football; Paul Mortimer encouraged by figures, but provides note of caution

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England and Liverpool's Casey Stoney says she's never personally experienced homophobia in women's football

Casey Stoney believes women's football is fully accepting of lesbian and bisexual players and says she has never experienced homophobia while playing.

The Liverpool and England defender spoke publicly about being gay for the first time in February 2014.

Stoney initially feared that coming out would make her a target for hostility although the 34-year-old insists that within women's football, she has always found the culture to be welcoming and accepting.

"I've been part of five or six different clubs and at this level, I don't experience homophobia," Stoney told Sky Sports' Sportswomen show. "For me, it's not part of the game.

"Women's football is very much a family sport and your team-mates respect you for what you do on the pitch."

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Since coming out, Stoney has been viewed as a role model in the sport and she hopes her story will inspire generations to come.

"A lot of young people are astounded that I decided to share my story so publicly," says Stoney. "A lot of people say I'm brave to do that but I would say it's not bravery, it's the right time.

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"They see me as a role model in that way and I take that quite seriously. I would encourage all young people to be comfortable with who they are, and to challenge themselves to have the difficult conversations around their sexuality."

Paul Mortimer, Kick It Out's Professional Players Engagement Manager, applauded Stoney's role as an ambassador but says football's equality and inclusion organisation is concerned by figures which suggest there may be an under-reporting of incidents of discrimination in the women's game.

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Kick It Out's Paul Mortimer says young female footballers may not be reporting incidents of homophobia in the game

Kick It Out received 98 reports of homophobic, biphobic or transphobic abuse in men's football during last season, but there were no reports of homophobia in the women's game.

Mortimer told Sportswomen on Tuesday that although the figures are largely encouraging, it may be the case that some young girls lack the confidence to speak out.

"Casey is an incredibly strong woman, a strong role model and a good ambassador but there may well be players that probably aren't as strong, as confident or don't really know how to report things, or who to speak to," said Mortimer.

"They may well just suppress things and deny its existence, and just accept and carry on with life as a player.

"The environment [in women's football] is far more accepting, open and understanding. The difference between women and men is that men have been conditioned to behave and react in a certain way, to toughen up and be a man."

Steph Houghton (C) celebrates as she scores England's first goal
Image: Kick It Out received no reports of homophobia in elite women's football last season

Stoney is one of a number of female footballers to have publicly come out, but there is still no professional active male player to have done so in the last 27 years, and she believes the fans could be the major difference.

"I think the men's game is very different to the women's game," said Stoney. "The fanbase is far greater. We play in front of 2,000, they play in front of 52,000 and our terraces are full of families and young children and their terraces look very different. Fans will use anything to throw at a male player.

"I'm sure there are gay players in the male game. Some of them might not feel the necessity to come out, but I still think there's a huge fear of the reaction of homophobic abuse that would come from the stands."

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