About 200 middle school students from Muret, near Toulouse, met former footballer Ouissem Belgacem on Tuesday, April 7, to raise awareness about homophobia in sports. The visit took place in the midst of recent controversies surrounding the Professional Football League.
His presence made a mark on the young minds. On Tuesday, April 7, Ouissem Belgacem, former player for TFC and an advocate against LGBTQIA+ discrimination in sports, spoke at Louisa-Paulin middle school in Muret, near Toulouse, to educate students about homophobia. This initiative comes a few weeks after the Professional Football League abandoned the LGBTQIA+ symbol.
” My message brought people together “
Close to 200 students attended this meeting, organized following a harassment case at the school. ” The teaching staff wanted to mobilize and offer a concrete awareness action. It was in this context that I was invited,” explained Ouissem Belgacem. The agenda included discussions with students, a screening of a clip from his film, and a sports activity. A comprehensive approach designed to encourage dialogue.
“I wanted to convey a message of unity. Media interventions are important, but meeting young people in person is even more crucial. Initially, some were skeptical, but they rarely have the opportunity to express themselves so freely. The atmosphere quickly changed,” he rejoiced.
” An irresponsible act “
This intervention comes in a tense context marked by the Professional Football League’s decision to abandon the LGBTQIA+ symbol. This decision was strongly criticized by the former player.
“I find it pathetic. It’s an incredibly irresponsible act. I didn’t have high expectations from the League, but I was still disappointed. It makes me furious to think that a young gay person could enter a locker room and constantly hear insults. Sports should be a space of equality, without gender or religious distinctions,” he lamented.
The necessity of a collective effort
Despite the impact of such interventions, Ouissem Belgacem emphasizes the fragility of the messages conveyed. “Today, the youth heard a positive message. But between family influences, social media, and other factors, everything can be questioned rapidly, as we saw with the League,” he noted.
He believes that only a collective mobilization can bring about lasting effects: “We need a joint effort from all the places where young people interact – schools, sports clubs, educational institutions – to convey consistent messages.”
Through these encounters, the former footballer explains that he contributes to shaping the mindsets of tomorrow by providing young people with the tools to think differently and evolve their opinions.
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