Established in 2014, the Purple Bombers celebrate our 5th anniversary in 2019. We are a recognised supporter group of the Essendon Football Club.
The Purple Bombers aim to assist the Essendon Football Club and the AFL in being leaders of change by creating a safe environment for LGBTIQ supporters and players, by encouraging and promoting diversity, and inclusion within the wider football community.
We are committed to removing homophobia from football and are striving towards our ultimate goals of establishing a full pride round and assisting other AFL clubs to establish their own LGBTIQ supporter groups. We will also look to support IDAHOT day each year and plan to have major events around this day.
Our committee meets regularly, working hard at creating and establishing a strong and diverse Coterie Group and setting the foundations of a strong, safe and accepting supporter group for all.
Each year, the Purple Bombers will have number of offerings for its members around special merchandise to help show support and increase awareness along with a number of special events and meet-ups throughout the year usually associated with Essendon home games.
Behind the scenes the Purple Bombers are partnering with other like-minded organisations to work on AFL wide initiatives in the hope of creating a safe work place for all LGBTIQ players and supporters. In 2019 we are pleased to confirm our new partnership with the Equality Project. The Equality Project are a new national body that seeks to create a fairer community for all LGBTIQ+ Australians. The Purple Bombers have selected the Equality Project as a major partner for 2019 and will donate 50% of our profits to help deliver the annual EP conference and create new leadership programs for the LGBTIQ+ community.
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Where does the membership money go?
Your contribution is very important to us as we strive to become leaders of change and to foster an inclusive environment in sport. By tackling homophobia, as well as gender equality and indigenous rights, the Essendon Football Club are behind us all the way and are supporting our cause to provide a support network within the AFL/sports community for players and supporters.
The money from every membership is used to invest in promoting the message of equality in sport, through marketing and promotional materials. The resources help us to stand up and be heard, and be the voice for so many people who need the support of the community to be who they are and be accepted and embraced. We’re also looking to fund local community education programs that will help to create a healthy message of equality and anti-bullying from a young age.
The funds are also used to give back to Essendon Football Club in the form of player sponsorship. This year our sponsored players are: Michael Hartley, Michael Hurley, and Orazio Fantasia. They’re an important part of our mission as they have the following to really make the message of respect and inclusion known. With their support and advocacy, we can really make a difference.
