Prominent figures from within the AFL community – including AFL Players’ Association President Luke Ball, AFL superstars Nic Naitanui, Patrick Dangerfield, Adam Goodes, Lenny Hayes and Brad Sewell, AFL General Manager Football Operations, Mark Evans, and Richmond President Peggy O’Neal – have united to feature in a video campaign targeted at tackling homophobia and promoting inclusion in the lead up to IDAHO, International Day Against Homophobia, this Saturday.

IDAHO commemorates the day homosexuality was removed from the International Classification of Diseases of the World Health Organisation in 1990.

The AFL industry is calling on fans to take the pledge to never use homophobic language and stand up to those who do, as part of the player-driven social media campaign with an emphasis on fostering a culture of inclusion at all times.

Launched today through the AFL Players’ Association and the AFL, the video features AFL identities asking fans to join in taking this pledge, and to share the message via social media to help raise awareness of the damaging impact homophobic language can have within our society.

In addition to its backing for the social media campaign, the AFL is again supporting an outside broadcast of GLBTI community radio station JOY 94.9 FM at the football, on the eve of IDAHO Day, at the Essendon versus Sydney clash at Etihad Stadium on Friday 16 May.

The broadcast will take place from a marquee situated outside Gate 7 on the Etihad Stadium concourse from 4-7pm and will feature a host of football personalities, as well as discussion around inclusion and diversity in the AFL community.