Homosexuality in English football Homosexuality in English football Homosexuality in English football is sometimes said to be a taboo subject by both players and the media. As of 2012, there are no openly gay footballers in England's top four divisions. Some, such as Peter Clayton, who chairs the FA's "Homophobia in Football" working group have argued that clubs prevent players from "coming out" as footballers have an increasing commercial market value which may be damaged. Homosexuality in England and Wales (but not Scotland or Northern Ireland) was decriminalised in 1967, leading to a more liberal public attitude. There are many openly gay politicians and
LGBT rights in Northern Ireland government being formed. The DUP has been strongly associated with opposition to LGBT rights since its establishment in 1971 by Ian Paisley, who also founded the fundamentalist Free Presbyterian Church of Ulster. Paisley and the DUP spearheaded the Save Ulster from Sodomy campaign during the 1970s to oppose efforts to decriminalise homosexuality in Northern Ireland. The influence of the Free Presbyterian Church over DUP policies has been described as leading to a theocratic regime in Northern Ireland. 30.6% of DUP members are Free Presybyterians compared to 0.6% of the overall Northern Ireland population. In 2016 DUP leader Arlene Foster promised