Rakuten TV breaks down barriers with the launch of We All Play, the documentary about the inclusion of LGBTQIA+ community in sport

Rakuten TV, one of Europe´s leading VOD platforms, is proud to present its latest Original production: We All Play, an unprecedented documentary film on the inclusion of LGBTQAI+ community in sport. From the inspiring stories of athletes defying obstacles to the courageous accounts of those who have fought for their right to compete on equal terms, We All Play offers an insightful and moving look at the transformative power of sport and the importance of creating truly inclusive spaces within the sporting community. The documentary will be available exclusively and for free on Rakuten TV across Europe, starting from July 18th.

While sport often embodies ideals of equality, fairness, perseverance, discipline, and integrity, shockingly, being gay/lesbian or transexual is still an overwhelmingly evident taboo in 2024. 20% of LGBTQIA+ people refrain from participating in sport due to their sexual orientation and/or gender identity. In many sports like football, NBA, Tennis, NFL, Rugby, there is a very small percentage of players openly declaring their belonging to the LGBTQIA+ community, and most of time this invisibilization is due to the stigma attached to this belonging: the fear of risk to their career, loss of sponsorship, bullying, publicity backlashes and impact on team dynamics or their fanbase is still a deep-rooted issue. While there have been advancements in support by associations and brands, is this enough to enact real change? What needs to happen to achieve real acceptance? This must be confronted in depth to find the fault line and make lasting positive change.

We All Play launches on Rakuten TV just ahead of the start of the Paris 2024 Olympics. The documentary shines a light on athletes who are speaking out, the communities that are supporting them in the fight on and off the sports field, and aims to combat prejudice, discrimination and promote inclusion in the world of sport.

In a journey around the world, this inspiring documentary introduces viewers to outstanding elite athletes who, often for the first time, share their personal and professional experiences in an effort to fight against discrimination and shift the gaze to diversity as an element of richness for sport and society at large.

Some of the main talent featured in the documentary are:

Campbell Johnstone: Recognised as the first All Black rugby player to go public with his homosexuality, inspiring change both on and off the field.
Lola Gallardo: Atletico Madrid’s outstanding openly lesbian football goalkeeper shares her unique experience of acceptance in the world of sport.
Javier Raya: The talented figure skater, whose journey to acceptance has been an inspiration to many in the LGBTQIA+ community.
Valentina Petrillo: The transgender athlete who challenges barriers in athletics, sharing her struggle and achievements in pursuit of inclusion.
Liz Carmouche: The mixed martial arts fighter who has conquered belts and hearts, defying stereotypes, and opening doors for the LGBTQIA+ community.
Michael Sam: The American football pioneer, who defied the norms by being the first openly gay player to be selected in an NFL draft.
Víctor Gutiérrez: The outstanding water polo player and politician who became one of the first Spanish athletes to come out, leading the way to acceptance in the world of sport.
Alejandra Jiménez: The courageous Mexican boxer, whose story of triumph and struggle has inspired many in her community and beyond.
Joanna Harper: The scientist and long-distance runner, whose work in the field of transgender sports has contributed significantly to the debate on inclusion and equity.
Amal Fashanu: Campaigner against homophobia in sport.

The documentary is directed by Spanish director Pablo de la Chica – winner of three Spanish Academy Awards (Goya Awards) for Blue & Malone: Casos imposibles (2021), Mamá (2022), and Aunque es de noche (2024). Produced by Atlantika Films, Lacoproductora and Diario AS and with the participation of RTVE, this documentary is one of the most ambitious projects in the history of LGBTQIA+ community in sport.

“We are very proud to release We All Play” said Daniel Gilgado, Head of Originals of Rakuten TV. “At Rakuten TV we are committed to making our Originals branded entertainment content, which is able to spread our company values of empowerment, innovation and diversity. This documentary is an excellent example of how a film can promote a change, and it is a further milestone in our editorial line after the release of inspiring stories of diversity in highly stereotyped fields, such as women in football or motorcycle racing.”

“People are what they are behind their sex, gender, sexual orientation, or any diversity, and accepting and fostering diversity and inclusion is key to letting them flourish, to leave no one excluded and to live in a fair and sustainable society. In order to overcome the biases and stigmas that separate us from this goal, we also need to create diverse models: to this end, films have a crucial responsibility in the content they convey. At Rakuten TV, we are doing our small part to make the entertainment industry more inclusive. The content we produce and distribute inspires over 150 million households across Europe: this is why we are committed to promoting storytelling which reflects the society in its complexity, and increasingly put our spotlight on DEI and social impact to inspire a positive and sustainable change”, comments Fabiana Cumia, PR & ESG Director of Rakuten TV.

From July 18th, We All Play will join the Rakuten Originals collection, which presents original, exclusive and free content from Rakuten TV in a total of 43 countries in Europe, through stories of optimism, empowerment and diversity that reflect the company’s DNA.