In a time where sexuality and gender identity feel under attack, we sat down with QPR Rainbow Rangers member Cooper Miller to discuss where LGBTQIA+ visibility belongs in football.
Cooper has been involved in the LGBTQIA+ supporters group since 2023 when there were only a few members.
They do pre-match pub meet-ups, community and social events, and develop the field of football to shape it into a more inclusive space to be. There are now around 30 members attending their social events.
Cooper said: “Football is a difficult environment at times to be queer.”
They elaborated on how in a sport that often clings to tradition and hypermasculinity, LGBTQIA+ fans and players can face hostility.
Cooper also said: “Chants are less common now, however we are a West London club and our rivals are Chelsea, so there is an awful chant that does come up occasionally.”
Cooper hopes the casual homophobia in these chants will dissipate in the next five years, but unfortunately they can still happen at away games due to a lack of representation.
Cooper told us: “Visibility is the biggest thing, we have done some education with the youth teams at the training ground.”
Many football clubs still don’t have a dedicated LGBTQIA+ fan group.
Cooper hopes the Rainbow Rangers demonstrate it is possible to ‘make queer people comfortable on match days’.
By eradicating homophobic chants or ensuring fans ‘never have to worry about holding someone of the same gender’s hand in the stadium’.
The Rainbow Rangers have their own merchandise and sell logo printed mugs to tote bags to t-shirts.
One of these shirts is plain white, reading ‘Keep Politics in Football’ in black print.
Cooper claimed: “Football is overall impacting many communities so why would this big strive for social change not have politics in it?
“Politics is everywhere…if you remove politics from something, it becomes soulless.”
While progress has been made through initiatives like Rainbow Laces, LGBTQIA+ supporters’ groups like QPR Rainbow Rangers, and more visible allyship, the reality is that many queer fans still feel they have to hide part of themselves at matches or choose between their identity and their love for the game.
Cooper admires Jake Williamson, a gay semi-professional player, for growing a large platform on social media for LGBTQIA+ fans and players at every level of the football pyramid.
The Rainbow Rangers hope that one day ‘footballers at any level would feel comfortable being out’.
The football environment can still be very homophobic, which makes people feel uncomfortable in approaching the group. This is a challenge when trying to grow their network.
Polling from YouGov has shown that 46% of football fans believe homophobia is a serious and widespread issue in football.
To combat this, the Rangers allow people to join anonymously and contact them for private advice, and to tackle the issue of homophobia in football in a wider sense, Cooper told us that visibility and ‘not being ashamed’ is key.
Although the majority of fans think the current situation is better than a decade ago, the environment can still be unwelcoming for queer fans, especially when compared to British society as a whole.
In February, QPR played in fixtures with PUMA’s Rainbow Ball. For each goal scored with the ball, PUMA donated money to the charity Football v Homophobia.
A member of the Rainbow Rangers carried the ball onto the pitch, instead of the referee who traditionally does so.
When discussing the Rainbow Ball charity match, we asked Cooper how they hoped the group will be remembered and how their legacy will come about.
Cooper told us: “You shouldn’t need to change your affiliation just to support a football club and be queer.”
Cooper’s words are a powerful reminder that football, so often described as the people’s game, still has work to do to truly belong to all people.
Looking ahead, Rainbow Rangers remain steadfast in their mission to grow visibility, challenge exclusion, and reshape the footballing landscape from the ground up. Their work continues to evolve as they find new ways to connect with fans, players, and communities.
Whether it’s through youth outreach, inclusive events, or simply showing up week after week, their presence is a reminder that football can and should belong to everyone.
Cooper said: “We are a diverse group for all looking to use community spirit to drive a more welcoming environment across football.”
You can find out more about QPR Rainbow Rangers here.
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