Gay Footballer Jack Turner to Walk 339 Miles Against Homophobia in Sport

Gay footballer Jack Turner is preparing to walk 339 miles from Axminster in Devon to Anfield in Liverpool as part of Steps Against Homophobia, an independent campaign he created to challenge discrimination and encourage greater LGBTQ+ inclusion in sport.

The challenge begins on 1 April 2027 and will take place over 18 days, with one rest day. Jack plans to travel through towns, cities and sporting communities across England, using the journey to meet clubs, supporters, LGBTQ+ organisations and others who want sport to become a place where everyone can participate without hiding who they are.

Football has been part of Jack’s life since childhood. He grew up in Axminster in a football focused family, with his father and brother both closely connected to the sport, and he captained his school team. As he grew older and began to understand his sexuality, however, he found football could feel less straightforward.

Jack has spoken about hearing homophobic language and stereotypes around the game and feeling pressure to fit a particular idea of what a footballer should be. He came out to family and close friends in his early twenties before later moving to Bristol.

He eventually found a very different experience at Bristol based grassroots club AC Moose, where he plays for the second team. Jack has described the club as the first mainstream football environment where he felt able to be openly gay while remaining competitive. The club has also backed Steps Against Homophobia.

That experience sits at the heart of the campaign. Jack wants LGBTQ+ people who love sport to know that inclusive spaces already exist, while encouraging more clubs and sporting communities to consider how welcoming their own environments really are.

The starting date also carries personal significance. Jack was travelling in New Zealand when he came out to his parents. Because of the time difference it was still April Fool’s Day in the UK, and his parents initially thought he was joking. Starting the walk on 1 April 2027 will mark 13 years since that conversation.

Jack says he does not expect one person walking 339 miles to solve homophobia in sport, but believes one person can start a conversation. Each stage of the route is intended to create opportunities for those conversations and to highlight people already doing positive work around LGBTQ+ inclusion.

Steps Against Homophobia is being organised independently, with Jack personally funding part of the project and staying with family and friends where possible. Its JustGiving campaign has a £2,500 target. Donations will help with accommodation during later stages of the walk, filming equipment to document the journey, website and digital costs, campaign materials, awareness resources and essential walking equipment and clothing.

Any money remaining after campaign costs have been covered will be donated to a chosen LGBTQ+ charity supporting inclusion and tackling discrimination.

Training, route preparation, fundraising progress and campaign updates are already being shared online ahead of the April 2027 start.

Anyone wanting to support Jack can donate through the official JustGiving campaign, visit/share the Steps Against Homophobia website, and follow the campaign on Instagram, Facebook and TikTok.

Support Jack and follow the campaign: Donate through the official JustGiving campaign⁠ @stepsagainsthomophobia⁠

Image credits - Steps against homophobia - IG ⁠