ABSTRACT
This chapter focuses on the nature of LGBT-themed chanting inside English football stadia. It shows that more than three-quarters of the LGBT fans in this research acknowledge a decline of this language in recent years. Moving beyond simplistic understandings of such language, the chapter also focuses on these fans’ interpretations of language and shows that two-thirds of these fans recognise the removal of pernicious intent. Instead, LGBT-themed chanting was described by many as a ‘sporting mechanism’ designed to motivate sporting success. The remainder, however, viewed its presence as both abusive and harmful. Moreover, despite the apparently relative scarcity of LGBT-themed chanting, many fans also recognised its potentially negative effects, particularly on LGBT fans who attend matches infrequently and closeted gay, bisexual and/or transgender players. The chapter closes with a brief discussion of how LGBT fans challenge this chanting – either directly or indirectly.
