Hockey ACT, Touch Football Australia, Netball Victoria, Tennis Australia, and Macquarie University Sport are among a range of sporting organisations and individuals who have been named as the country’s best for LGBTQ inclusion at the Australian Pride in Sport Awards held today in Melbourne at CENTREPIECE.
Launched in 2018, the Australian Pride in Sport Awards is the first celebration of its kind dedicated solely to celebrating and acknowledging exceptional efforts in making Australian sport more inclusive of LGBTQ people. It is produced by Pride in Sport, the national not-for-profit sporting inclusion program spearheaded by Australia’s largest LGBTQ health organisation, ACON.
Along with sporting clubs and organisations, individuals from community, as well as allies, from a range of codes were awarded for their efforts in making their respective sports a more welcoming place for LGBTQ people on and off the field. (See next page for complete list of award recipients.)
The awards showcase the results of the Pride in Sport Index (PSI) – a national benchmarking instrument used to access LGBTQ inclusion within Australian sport.
Co-founder of the PSI, Andrew Purchas, said: “Every year, the awards build on progress in achieving LGBTQ rights and ongoing work in making sporting arenas, pitches, and spectator stands more inclusive.
“Over the years since the PSI and Awards were established, Australian sporting codes, organisations and clubs have shown that they’re heeding growing calls and expectations that sport is welcoming of everyone. They are taking the positive steps needed to ensure a person’s sexuality and/or gender identity and is not a barrier to being able to participate, spectate or volunteer with sport at any level.
“The growth in participating clubs, organisations and codes is incredibly encouraging as it demonstrates a growing focus on LGBTQ inclusion, zero tolerance of homophobia, biphobia, and transphobia.
“I congratulate all the award recipients and finalists, along with many others working towards making Australian sport an inclusive place for everyone. I’m proud of all their efforts and to celebrate those success stories at the Pride in Sport Awards today,” Purchas said.
The awards, hosted by comedian Bobby Macumber, featured The Voice and Australia’s Got Talent music sensation Jael Wena, as well as the much-anticipated award ceremony.
Pride In Sport National Program Manager Beau Newell added: “Since it was established seven years ago, the PSI has continued to see a tangible shift in practice with LGBTQ inclusion work in Australian sport, as well as greater and demonstrable commitments to providing safer and more inclusive environments and experiences for sexuality and gender diverse people.”
“As society becomes more inclusive, there is an expectation that sport also reflects the diversity of our communities. There is more to be done to ensure sport – whether on or off the field – is inclusive of everyone and that every person feels welcome as they are, in the sport they love. Everyone has fundamental right to participate in sport.
“Pride in Sport would like to congratulate all sporting codes, clubs, athletes, administrators, support staff and the many volunteers on the efforts they are making to ensure everyone is welcome and supported in sport,” Newell said.
