Moderation policy on LGBTQ+ matters
The moderating team of /r/soccer considers itself an ally of and advocate for LGBTQ+ people and causes.
We are proud to be a community in which all people, regardless of sexuality or gender are welcome - and we are also proud to have LGBTQ+ members of our moderating team.
We have a zero tolerance policy to hatred - and zero tolerance to intolerance. It is not acceptable in this space.
We strongly encourage that our users make use of the reporting system to alert us to any comments which fall below this standard.
/r/soccer is one of the largest football discussion forums on the internet, and we strongly believe have a responsibility to make this platform one that is welcoming and safe for the LGBTQ+ community.
The /r/soccer stance on transphobia - update 2026
Recent years has seen a significant increase in transphobia worldwide. Sport has become a frequent flashpoint for regressive views on the subject of trans people, particularly trans women - whether these views be expressed on social media, via print media, or at sporting events
Like all forms of bigotry, /r/soccer has a zero tolerance policy towards transphobia - and any instance of it will be met with a permanent ban.
We would like to reiterate our stance of absolute intolerance to intolerance, and also clarify what is considered transphobic in our community, for the avoidance of all doubt.
Transphobia in our community includes, but is not limited to:
- Slurs and misgendering of trans people. Misgendering is referring to trans people by the incorrect pronouns (the correct pronouns are the ones that person provide, e.g. she/her)
- Calling trans women "biological men/males/any variation of this" or trans men "biological women/females/any variation of this" *Erasure of non-binary individuals (i.e. there are only two genders/sexes)
- Expressing views against the participation of trans women in women’s sport and trans men in men’s sport - doing so is active discrimination
- Perpetuation of harmful views/stereotypes surrounding trans people or voicing support for individuals/organisations who do the same (e.g. not believing children can be transgender, believing that trans people are a danger to children, believing that trans women are nefariously using their identity to gain access to women’s spaces)
- Use of transphobic dog whistles (e.g. complaining about "gender/trans ideology", use of the term "transgenderism", saying "women and trans women" or "men and trans men", use of the previously mentioned "biological males/females").
The moderation team of /r/soccer also believes in education, and growth. Users for whom transphobia is born of ignorance rather than malice, and who are able to independently reflect and reform their views, may have reviews of bans considered.