Aberdeen have become the first football club in Scotland form a fan group for LGBT supporters and their friends.
The club announced the move as a part of LGBT History month and said it was proud to “fulfil the vision of a club and community which is welcoming to all regardless of race, religion, sexuality or gender”.
The new group, known as Proud Dons, and exists to provide a social group for LGBT Aberdeen fans and their friends to meet up and discuss football and campaign to kick homophobia out of the game.
This first in Scottish football was launched by Aberdeen's former captain Russell Anderson and committed Dons fan Rev Scott Rennie of Queen's Cross Church.
Speaking about the club's new initiative, Scott said: “I am immensely chuffed to see this happen and for Aberdeen to be the first club in Scotland to recognise the need to address homophobia in football and to back a Fan group for LGBT Dons fans and their friends.
“Most of the big clubs in England have done the same in recent years, and it speaks volumes for AFC's commitment to the whole community of the north east that they are the first in Scotland to do the same.
“I hope the fan group will provide a great social forum for fans to talk everything Aberdeen FC, football, and make new friends among the Dons support.
“I also think it's important we tackle homophobia in Scottish football too, so that young folk growing up going to games, don't feel awkward or like outsiders at their own club's games, like some of us did growing up."
Proud Dons can be contacted on twitter at @ProudDons and also through their Facebook page.
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