The AFL is pleased to partner with JOY 94.9 to produce a live broadcast from outside Etihad Stadium today, Friday, May 16 from 4pm to 7.30pm.

On the eve of IDAHO Day and prior to the Essendon v Sydney Swans match, JOY will speak to community groups, football identities and representatives from the AFL and the AFL Players Association about initiatives regarding respectful relationships, inclusion and diversity in the AFL community. IDAHO Day is on Saturday 17 May and is the International Day Against Homophobia.

The AFL and other high profile figures from the industry have joined the AFL Players’ Association in their 2014 IDAHO Day social media campaign. The campaign helps raise awareness of the damaging impact homophobic language can have within our society. It asks footy fans to take the pledge not to use homophobic language and to share the message via social media (#FOOTY4IDAHO). To find out more about the campaign visit aflplayers.com.au and afl.com.au . A video message can be seen here: http://www.afl.com.au/video/2014-05-16/stamping-out-homophobia

AFL General Manager Football Operations, Mark Evans said the wider AFL community was proud to throw its support behind the players’ campaign and to be a part of the JOY broadcast.

“The AFL is again pleased to support an outside broadcast at one of our games by community radio station JOY FM as part of our ongoing efforts to promote inclusion and diversity at all levels of Australian Football and to challenge homophobia,” Mr Evans said.

“The AFL and clubs are also pleased to back the players’ social media initiative to raise awareness about the hurt caused by the use of homophobic language in sport.

“Discrimination is never acceptable and vilification based on sexual identity is just as offensive as vilification based on gender, race, religion, colour or disability.”

Players’ Association Acting CEO Ian Prendergast said players felt strongly about the issue and were eager to keep the momentum going in 2014 following the success of the #FOOTY4IDAHO campaign in 2013.

“There’s no room in our game for vilification of any form, and this extends beyond the playing field and into everyday life. Footy is for everyone, and it’s really important that people involved in the game, from a grassroots level up to the elite level, never lose sight of that,” Prendergast said.

“Last year we really saw players and fans unite on this issue and we’re hoping this will happen again. We want to make sure people think before they speak and understand it’s not just about avoiding using homophobic language ourselves, but also standing up to those who do.”

See the JOY 94.9 broadcast at Etihad Stadium live on the concourse outside Gate 7, listen on-air & online at www.joy.org.au or follow the conversation via twitter: #JOYAFL