Andrew Purchas knows a lot about fighting for wider acceptance and equality in sport.
He founded the Sydney Convicts Rugby Club in 2004 and he helped launch the inaugural Rainbow Laces campaign.
His message is simple: gender identity and sexual identity plays no part in whether you should be able to enjoy sport.
"This is not just going to happen on its own, so that’s why initiatives like this really creates and stamps a clear message," he said.
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The campaign encourages people, clubs and fans to wear their rainbow laces with pride between March 31 and April 4 to show that intimidation, bullying and homophobic abuse doesn't belong on the sporting grounds of this country.
High-profile sports players to get involved in the campaign include Matildas Forward Michelle Heyman.
"It's Aussie culture to play the game so if people aren’t running out on the field just because they’re scared of what people are going to say, that just ruins the game I love," she said.
Matt Toomua, another sports player to get involved in the campaign, said the message of the campaign wasn't restricted to the five-day timeframe.
"It's about what we can do throughout the year," he said. "It's great that we can do this one weekend and highlight that but it’s more in the sense that we are trying to encourage that culture day to day".
"It's Aussie culture to play the game so if people aren’t running out on the field just because they’re scared of what people are going to say, that just ruins the game I love."
Max Burgess is a 21-year-old footballer for Sydney FC. He said people his age were ready to bring wider acceptance with them, whether the older generation approved or not.
"As my generation comes through I think we’re a lot more aware of it and I think we can be more progressive about this issue," he said.
If Purchas has his way, the #Rainbowlaces campaign will become an ongoing event held once a year to help keep the issue in the spotlight. And the early signs are good. Eight professional clubs across five sporting codes have already backed the first staging. 
[l to r] Sharni Layton, Dylan Shiel, Matt Toomua, Nathan Peats, Max Burgess and Michelle Heyman all put their best foot forwards to fight homophobia Source: SBS
