Naked rowers break record fundraising against homophobia

Warwick Rowing has raised over £35,000 in their campaign against bullying and homophobia in sports and schools – over seven times their original £5,000 target.

In their efforts to tackle prejudicial bullying and homophobia, the rowing team gained the support of former Warwick rower, two-time Olympian and World medalist Tom Solesbury.

Other high-profile figures in the media also showed their support for the rowers on Twitter. These included Gok Wan, Stephen Fry, and Boy George.

Olympian Tom Solesbury said: “I rowed for Warwick and am delighted to see my old club doing such great work for charity and for young people.

“… I think what they’re doing is very brave. I’ve faced many challenges in my Olympic career, but I have to take my hat off to the [rowers] for this.

“The calendar has become very popular with the gay community, and the [rowers] have embraced that… They’ve learned of how many have struggled to come to terms with their sexuality.”

Calendar photographer Angus Malcolm said in an interview with So So Gay: “They love [the huge gay fan base]…the [rowers’] attitude is that all attention is an affirmation! And it’s gone beyond a simple ‘it’s ok to look’.

“When the [rowers] decided to support the Ben Cohen Foundation last year to combat bullying and homophobia in sport, the response from the gay community made a huge impression on them.

“They were hearing stories from people all over the world about… how much difference it would have made to have had a group of straight university jocks telling them it was OK to be gay. That was when the [rowers] really committed to offering themselves as straight allies to the gay community.

“It’s not just about recognising the support they’ve had from the gay community… it’s about doing whatever they can in support of a group of people they have come to know and respect.”

Apart from fundraising, Warwick Rowing will be actively involved in an outreach program which will see them going into schools to promote sports and inclusion. They also plan to make a series of videos to encourage young people to call a national helpline.