Essendon will be donning #RainbowLaces for this weekend’s Rainbow Round of Sport clash against Carlton.

The Bombers have joined the Pride in Sport and SKINS national campaign to show support of LGBTI athletes, administrators, and fans, letting them know they are welcome at every level of sport.

Dyson Heppell will be one of the players donning the laces this weekend.

“It’s about encouraging the LGBTI athletes, administrators and fans … and hopefully we can get some massive support behind the campaign,” he said.

“We want to be the most inclusive Club in the AFL and show that everyone matters.

“So we’re sticking to our core values and therefore it’s very important for us, as players, to get behind the campaign.”

The 2015 Out on the Fields Research, conducted by Repucom on behalf of The Australian Sports Commission and The Bingham Cup Sydney, showed that 75% of Australian participants believe an openly LGB person would not be very safe as a spectator at a sporting event and 80% of participants (both straight and LGB) had witnessed or experienced homophobia in sport.

If you’d like to join in and show support, you can collect FREE #RainbowLaces from your nearest rebel, rebelfit or AMART SPORTS store or Medibank branch. To find your nearest store, head to rainbowlaces.net. Laces will also be available at the stadium before the game.

For more information about the #RainbowLaces campaign, see rainbowlaces.net