Kings Cross Steelers Promoting Inclusivity Through Rubgy

July 12, 2019

Sport is an activity that forms bonds unlike any other, and for Tim Thornton of Bermondsey, South London, it helped him find his place in the LGBT community. Tim and his partner Alex play for the Kings Cross Steelers, the world's first and oldest – 24 years – gay-inclusive rugby union club.


Having experienced the fears and worries of joining a typical and mainstream sports club, Tim expressed how an LGBT person might feel when thinking of joining a sport, team or league. As he told My London, "I wasn't 'one of the lads' as you might say. I think particularly with rugby it can be highly aggressive, it can be quite an intimidating environment for everyone, but especially for guys and girls coming to terms with their sexuality or gender identity."

The Steelers refer to themselves as a "friendly environment off the pitch and a competitive and inclusive environment on the pitch" and the community feel that Tim experienced there has transferred to his off the pitch experiences. He said that participating in inclusive rugby allowed him to build the confidence and skills to help lead his workplace LGBT network – a network focused on uniting everyone, regardless of sexuality or gender identity. His goal is to set up an Allied network, which allows for LGBT employees and beyond to find support in the office. "My involvement in LGBT has always been around sport or general social so doing something in the corporate world has been interesting,” he said.

Earlier this month, the Steelers hosted England Rugby in their first Pride march in London. Stated Matt Webb, Chairman of the Kings Cross Steelers RFC: "The work that has gone on in the background this year has been exceptional including the release of England Rugby's updated Transgender policy making it easier for all to play our amazing game. Our players still encounter homophobic language both on the pictch and in their daily lives so the work must continue to call this out."

Tim reiterates that this is a yearly cause that people are living and supporting and hundreds of sports clubs provide backing for the LGBT community and this should not go unnoticed. "For me, playing rugby in Essex or being involved with the Steelers is about going out and changing perceptions in everyday life, not necessarily by direct campaigning but by getting a team out week in week out, improving and winning. That does change perceptions."

Tim's story first appeared in My London.