Captain proves Celtic is Open to All, The Proud Huddle Celtic Supporters’ Club

SIX Celtic Supporters launched the Proud Huddle Celtic Supporters’ Club back in January 2018. Chloe Divers, Iain Sharkey, Pauline Kelly, Lindsay Hamilton, Robert Cairney and Soraya Din – had two things in common. All six are Celtic supporters and they are all LGBT.

Their wish was to develop friendships and to create a safe space to watch their team and they have certainly achieved their goals. The club gathers at Admiral Bar in Glasgow’s city centre when Celtic are away from home, so if you fancy going along – whether you re LGBT or not – and getting involved and watching the game with the Troops that’s the place to be.

???????? @CelticCSCPride

— Celtic Football Club (@CelticFC) August 6, 2019

Lindsay Hamilton has been speaking to The Celtic View Editor Paul Cuddihy about the supporters club she helped to launch and how the club has been welcomed by the wider Celtic family.

“To be honest, we didn’t find too many problems at Celtic Park. You do occasionally hear things, or get the odd comment, but on the whole, we didn’t really feel there was a major homophobic problem at Celtic Park.

“The group just stemmed from wanting to build friendships. We’re all Celtic fans and we’re LGBT, so we thought we’d form a supporters’ club.

“There is still homophobia which exists in football. That’s no secret, but we just felt that we wanted to do something off the back of enjoying one another’s company at that initial meeting. We’re just like-minded strangers who became pals very quickly.

“The fact that we have a lot of non-LGBT members is a big thing for me,” Lindsay stated.

“That is one of the most important aspects of our club, and so important in any LGBT promotion, because you need allies.

“It’s fantastic that we have non-LGBT members, and the fact that we’re connecting through football and through Celtic makes all the difference. That’s what’s bringing us together and we sit and watch the Celtic games the same as every other supporter.

“We would all do that anyway, but the fact that non-LGBT people are coming along to be part of our club, sit down and watch the games, and talk about Celtic just as they would at any supporters’ club is important.”

Celtic captain Scott Brown showed tremendous support for the LGBT community at the weekend and should be congratulated for making his views on this subject very clear indeed.

Get your copy in the Daily Record today ????️‍????????Thanks to @ScottBrown8 for boldly stepping out as an lgbt ally. Brilliant article! @Record_Sport @paddypower pic.twitter.com/5oAdV0yxnO

— Proud Huddle CSC (@CelticCSCPride) August 5, 2019

“Being gay or bisexual shouldn’t matter in football. As soon as you put that strip on, you’re one of us – no matter who you are. It must be hard being a gay footballer. They say there’s one in every dressing room and to hide it must be tough.

“I hope that someone does feel comfortable enough to come out because I can’t imagine having to hide who you are.

“Not coming out to the lads around you must be so hard but I know that at Celtic Park, we would be accepting,” The Celtic skipper told Pitch Invader magazine as reported at the weekend in Daily Record.

“I’d love to see a player comfortable enough to come out at Celtic.

“I think everyone down in England thinks Scotland is a much harder place but we’re very soft-hearted beneath it all sometimes.”

Brown also talked about the abuse that can be directed at players online, former Celtic Star Chris Sutton is going through this at the moment after his private phone-numbers was revealed on social media via various Rangers accounts.

“I tweet and use Instagram but talk about Celtic stuff. If people want to give me a bit of grief on social media, I don’t mind that,” Broony said.

“I don’t bite back at anyone but it’s getting harder and harder. I’ve had teammates that have been racially abused through social media, as well as the terraces, and it’s really hard to take.

“I’ve seen racism towards my teammates and the impact that can have on them and the team.

“They’re my mates and are getting bullied and racially abused. It’s not nice to see that. The lads in the team stick together, so we find it tough to take when we see that level of abuse.”