Virgin Atlantic suspended a coverage permitting its crew to decide on gender-neutral uniforms on its flight taking England’s World Cup soccer squad to Qatar.
The airline stated the choice adopted a “risk assessment… considering laws and attitudes towards the LGBTQ+ community and expressions of identity”.
Homosexuality is unlawful in Qatar below Islamic Sharia regulation, and there have been issues concerning the conservative nation’s remedy of LGBTQ+ vacationers attending the match.
England’s World Cup squad left their St George’s Park HQ to set off for Qatar on Tuesday.
Their flight from Birmingham was believed to be on an Airbus A350 airplane known as “Rain Bow” – a logo of LGBT+ delight.
In a press release, Virgin Atlantic stated “We’re proud our leading Gender Identity Policy allows our people to express themselves through uniform choice.
“Following a danger evaluation, it was beneficial the coverage was not utilized on in the present day’s constitution flight to make sure the protection of our folks.”
Virgin Atlantic introduced a “fluid” approach in September, allowing staff the option of wearing its red or burgundy uniforms based on “how they establish or current themselves”.
An ambassador for the World Cup in Qatar lately described homosexuality as “damage in the mind”. Khalid Salman advised a German public broadcaster that being homosexual was “haram”, which suggests forbidden in Arabic.
England skipper Harry Kane is certainly one of a number of nationwide captains who plan to take part within the “OneLove” marketing campaign through the match. Players will put on a rainbow-coloured armband to marketing campaign towards discrimination.
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Wales have been additionally making the journey to Qatar on Tuesday for the nation’s first look on the match in 64 years.
Jets of water have been squirted over the Wales staff’s airplane because it departed from Cardiff Airport.
Wales and England are in the identical group for the match, and can face one another in two weeks.
Source: information.sky.com”