AuthorPride in Sport

Squash Australia has become the newest member of the Australian Pride in Sport program, committing to further develop and enhance the inclusion of LGBTQ people. 

ACON Health’s Pride in Sport program is the only sporting inclusion program specifically designed to assist sporting organisations with the inclusion of employees, athletes, coaches, volunteers, officials and spectators with diverse genders and sexualities.

By joining the Pride in Sport program, Squash Australia takes another step towards further extending its inclusive sporting culture, one that fosters positive connections between individuals and ensures that everybody who wants to participate in the sport can do so in a safe and respectful environment

Squash Australia CEO Rob Donaghue is excited about the opportunities that Pride in Sport will create by helping promote positive messages and examples around LGBTQ inclusion for sport and recreation programs at Squash Australia.

“Squash Australia is pleased to have partnered with Pride in Sport. We are committed to creating a healthy sporting environment and a supportive community for LGBTIQ+ athletes, coaches, volunteers, staff and supporters.

“Being a Pride in Sport member means we are supported in ensuring squash is a game for all, where everybody feels welcome and respected, both on and off the court,” he said.

Beau Newell, National Program Manager of Pride in Sport Australia, said actual and perceived social exclusion is a leading cause of preventable death in Australia, and creating a much healthier and safer sporting culture for LGBTQ people has never been more important.

“By joining Pride in Sport and working with ACON, Squash Australia is showing the community that they care about the health and wellbeing of their athletes, and members across Australia,” Newell said.

“Congratulations to Squash Australia for leading the way in changing Australia’s sporting culture, to be more inclusive.”

Data from the 2020 PSI National Survey showed that just 44% of LGBTQ people felt mentally well within their sport, with 44% of people who are not an active LGBTQ Ally saying they were too busy to be engaged in individual activities.

Data from the Out on the Fields study showed that 80% of people have either witnessed or experienced homophobia in sport, with 75% believing that an openly gay person would not be safe as a spectator at a sporting event.

Data from the LGBTIQ+ Health Australia showing that LGBTQ young people aged 16 to 27 are five times more likely to attempt suicide compared to the general population, with transgender people aged 18 and over nearly eleven times more likely.

Pride in Sport is Australia’s first and only sexuality and gender diverse sporting inclusion program for the Australian sporting sector.

ENDS

ABOUT PRIDE IN SPORT

Pride in Sport is a national not-for-profit program that assists sporting organisations and clubs with the inclusion of LGBTQ employees, athletes, coaches, volunteers, officials and spectators. It is part of ACON’s Pride Inclusion Programs, which provides a range of services to employers, sporting organisations and service providers with support in all aspects of LGBTQ inclusion. All funds generated through membership and ticketed events go back into the work of Pride in Sport, actively working alongside sporting organisations, clubs and participants to make Australian sport inclusive of LGBTQ communities. For more information, visit the Pride Inclusion Programs website here.

ABOUT THE PRIDE IN SPORT INDEX

The Pride in Sport Index (PSI) is an independently administered benchmarking system that provides the opportunity for all national and state sporting organisations to have their LGBTQ related initiatives, programs and policies reviewed, measured and monitored. An initiative of the Australian Human Rights Commission, the Australian Sports Commission and a legacy of the Bingham Cup Sydney 2014 (the world cup of gay rugby), it was developed alongside an advisory group that includes representatives from the National Rugby League (NRL), the Australian Football League (AFL), the Australian Rugby Union (ARU), Football Federation Australia (FFA), Cricket Australia, Swimming Australia, Water Polo Australia, Basketball Australia and Golf Australia. For more information, visit the Pride in Sport website here.

Hockey NSW has become the newest member of the Australian Pride in Sport program, committing to further develop and enhance the inclusion of LGBTQ people. 

ACON Health’s Pride in Sport program is the only sporting inclusion program specifically designed to assist sporting organisations with the inclusion of employees, athletes, coaches, volunteers, officials and spectators with diverse genders and sexualities.

Being a Pride in Sport member means changing practices and working towards a more inclusive, safe, and healthy sporting environment for people with diverse sexualities and genders.

David Thompson, Chief Executive Officer of Hockey NSW, is excited about the opportunity that Pride in Sport will play when helping promote positive messages and examples around LGBTQ inclusion for sport and recreation programs at Hockey NSW.

“Hockey is pleased to have partnered with Pride in Sport. We aim to further our inclusive practices so that everyone feels welcome”, Thompson said.

Furthermore, Hockey NSW have also entered into a special partnership with Bentstix Hockey Club – a proud LGBTIQA+ hockey club from Sydney’s Eastern suburbs.

Through the partnership, Benstix will assist Hockey NSW in the completion of the Pride in Sport Index and offer support and feedback on areas of the organisation where improvements can be made in regards to inclusion.

Bentstix will also work in collaboration with Hockey NSW to help develop, plan and deliver key initiatives that promote greater inclusion of people with diverse sexualities and genders within hockey.

“Bentstix are a fantastic example of a wonderfully inclusive and active hockey club here in NSW that genuinely promote participation from all areas of the community,” Thompson said.

“They have a number of well-respected professionals from the LGBTIQA+ community as members of the club, who can provide educated and insightful advice to Hockey NSW on inclusion within our sport throughout NSW.”

Dr Oliver Barrett, President of Bentstix Hockey Club is looking forward to working alongside Hockey NSW on this new venture.

“Bentstix Hockey Club is incredibly proud to partner with Hockey NSW to further facilitate the inclusion of the LGBTIQA+ community in hockey,” said Barrett.

“It is fantastic to see Hockey NSW committing to the Pride in Sport Index this year, and we are very pleased to be able to be able to help them with their genuine quest to break down barriers and promote inclusion for all in hockey.”

Data from the 2020 PSI National Survey showed that just 44% of LGBTQ people felt mentally well within their sport, with 44% of people who are not an active LGBTQ Ally saying they were too busy to be engaged in individual activities.

Data from the Out on the Fields study showed that 80% of people have either witnessed or experienced homophobia in sport, with 75% believing that an openly gay person would not be safe as a spectator at a sporting event.

Data from the LGBTIQ+ Health Australia showing that LGBTQ young people aged 16 to 27 are five times more likely to attempt suicide compared to the general population, with transgender people aged 18 and over nearly eleven times more likely.

Beau Newell, National Program Manager of Pride in Sport Australia, said actual and perceived social exclusion is a leading cause of preventable death in Australia, and creating a much healthier and safer sporting culture for LGBTQ people has never been more important.

“By joining Pride in Sport and working with ACON, Hockey NSW is showing the community that they care about the health and wellbeing of their athletes, and members across NSW” Newell said.

“Congratulations to Hockey NSW for leading the way in changing Australia’s sporting culture, to be more inclusive.”

Pride in Sport is Australia’s first and only sexuality and gender diverse sporting inclusion program for the Australian sporting sector.
 

ABOUT PRIDE IN SPORT 

Pride in Sport is a national not-for-profit program that assists sporting organisations and clubs with the inclusion of LGBTQ employees, athletes, coaches, volunteers, officials and spectators. It is part of ACON’s Pride Inclusion Programs, which provides a range of services to employers, sporting organisations and service providers with support in all aspects of LGBTQ inclusion. All funds generated through membership and ticketed events go back into the work of Pride in Sport, actively working alongside sporting organisations, clubs and participants to make Australian sport inclusive of LGBTQ communities. For more information, visit the Pride Inclusion Programs website here.

ABOUT THE PRIDE IN SPORT INDEX

The Pride in Sport Index (PSI) is an independently administered benchmarking system that provides the opportunity for all national and state sporting organisations to have their LGBTQ related initiatives, programs and policies reviewed, measured and monitored. An initiative of the Australian Human Rights Commission, the Australian Sports Commission and a legacy of the Bingham Cup Sydney 2014 (the world cup of gay rugby), it was developed alongside an advisory group that includes representatives from the National Rugby League (NRL), the Australian Football League (AFL), the Australian Rugby Union (ARU), Football Federation Australia (FFA), Cricket Australia, Swimming Australia, Water Polo Australia, Basketball Australia and Golf Australia. For more information, visit the Pride in Sport website here.

Curtesy of SBS Sport and Pride in Sport

During this year’s Pride Month, Pride in Sport has partnered with SBS Sport to showcase some of Australia’s most amazing LGBTQ athletes, from a range of sporting codes.

This was also highlighted during SBS’s Cycling Central coverage of the Tour de France, with a dedicated ‘Pride Stage’.

Tonight we promote Pride ?‍ ?
“we see Pride rounds in other sports and I think that really brings a lot of awareness and welcoming and inclusivity” @gracieelvin@PrideinSportAU #PRIDE #couchpeloton #sbstdfhttps://t.co/k3p12UyHmI pic.twitter.com/UUMRkewBg4

— CyclingCentral (@CyclingCentral) June 29, 2021

The video series celebrates LGBTQ athletes and highlights the importance of LGBTQ inclusion in sport.

The athletes are sharing the message that sport has so much to offer and participation in sport is a fundamental human right, regardless of gender or sexual orientation.

With four episodes currently released and more to come throughout June, audiences can hear about the athletes’ experiences and how we can all champion LGBTQ inclusion in sport.

Ian Roberts (he/him)

Rugby League

“Sport’s about being a part of something bigger, much bigger than yourself.”

Roberts played for a number of clubs in the NRL (National Rugby League) during the 1980s and 1990s, making history in 1995 when he became the first high-profile Australian sports person to come out as gay, and has led discussion of inclusion in sport for LGBTQ athletes since doing so.

Ricki Coughlan (she/her)

Running

“Making sport a more welcoming place and creating an inclusive and diverse environment makes our society a more welcoming, inclusive and diverse environment.”

A middle-distance runner, who competed at club and state level in 800 and 1,500 metre events, Ricki is widely recognised within the sporting industry as one of the world’s first transgender athletes.

Two of her big passions are running and helping other people become their own champion through performance running, fitness and personal development.

Matt Cecchin (he/him)

Rugby League

“We need more allies, we need more role models, we need more high-profile players to come out and be proud of who they are and lead the way.”

A decorated referee, who has officiated matches at the sport’s highest level such as the NRL grand final and State of Origin, as well as the rugby league World Cup, Cecchin was 11 years into his career before he came out, becoming the first professional in the sport to do so since Roberts in 1995.

Stella Lesic (they/them)

Basketball

“Sport is such an integral part of feeling like you belong and that you’re included.”

The President and Founder of Australia’s first LGBTQ basketball and roller-skating club, Queer Sporting Alliance, Stella is at the forefront of shaking up the way society views gender diversity in sport and working towards breaking down the stereotypes that continue to limit inclusion and participation.

Simon Dunn (he/him)

Former bobsledder and rugby player

“Sport has always promoted itself as being for everybody and we can all agree that history often proves otherwise.”

Dunn was the first openly gay man to represent Australia in bobsledding and is now a personal trainer and occasional rugby player for the Sydney Convicts.

Sam Dengate (he/him)

Gym/Powerlifting

“Fear [of LGBTQ inclusion] is because of lack of education and understanding”

Sam is the Head Coach and owner of T Generation, which was born out of his personal negative experience and unease in the health/fitness industry around queer safety and empathy.

Kate Humphries (she/her)

Sailing

“It doesn’t harm anyone to include people, no matter what their background, in sport… and I’d go so far as to say; that level of inclusion saves lives”

Kate is intending on being the first woman to cross the pacific ocean as captain of her own private motor boat this year.

Daniel Kowalski (he/him)

Swimming

“one of the most powerful things that we can do is create and provide a platform for people to be able tell their stories and share their own experiences”

Kowalski is a former Olympian and member of the Australian Swimming team and proud Dolphins number 431.

Gracie Elvin (she/her)

Cycling

“We don’t want it just to be a by-line in an inclusivity document that gets lost in the bowels of websites. We want it to be out and we want it to be talked about often, so everyone feels comfortable. 

Gracie Elvin  is an Australian former racing cyclist, who rode professionally between 2012 and 2020. Elvin is a two-time winner of the Australian National Road Race Championships, with victories in 2013 and 2014, and the only Australian female rider to record a podium finish at the Tour of Flanders for Women, with second in 2017.

Dan Palmer (he/him)

Rugby

“Sport is a microcosm for broader society, and for better or worse; professional athletes are looked up to by the community. Athletes can have a huge impact on the way younger people view themselves and the world around them. It is therefore critical that they, and the organisations they represent, set a good example for the broader community”

Dan Palmer is a former Australian professional rugby union footballer. Having played for the Wallabies, Waratahs, and Brumbies.

The video series celebrates LGBTQ athletes and highlights the importance of LGBTQ inclusion in sport.

Roll out the rainbow carpet! It is our great pleasure to announce Gymnastics NSW has become a member of the Australian Pride in Sport program.

As part of our inclusive philosophy, GNSW has committed to ACON Health’s program specifically designed to assist sporting organisations with the inclusion of athletes, coaches, volunteers, officials, spectators and employees with diverse genders and sexualities.

Being a Pride in Sport member means a commitment to promoting and changing practices to work towards a more inclusive, safe, and healthy sporting environment for all.

GNSW CEO Aaron Bloomfield says the partnership will help enhance the inclusion of LGBTIQ people in gymnastics.

“Everyone has a right to feel welcome and safe in gymnastics, and indeed within all aspects of life,” Mr Bloomfield said. “We look forward to working with Pride in Sport to create a culture of care for our beautifully diverse community. We want people who identify as LGBTIQ to see gymnastics as a welcome and safe space where they can truly be themselves.”

As part of Pride Month this June, GNSW also presents Pride Ambassadors Dominic Clarke and Mic Whitehouse.

Throughout their time as ambassadors, this wonderful duo will share their experiences and thoughts as part of the organisation’s efforts to foster inclusivity within gymnastics.

Whitehouse, a former High Performance Rhythmic Gymnast and current Head Coach at Le Ray Gymnastics Academy, says the partnership with Pride in Sport is monumental.

“It opens up the conversation and allows for acceptance and opportunity for LGBTIQ and gender diverse people,” they said.

“I am proud to be a queer, non-binary individual. But I never felt like I could be proud of myself or my identity while I was a gymnast. If I could talk to my younger, competing self, I would have told them that it’s okay to be proud and open about who I am.”

Pride is all about celebrating our rights to live freely as ourselves, and celebrating those who pioneered for our community to be seen and accepted, they said.

For Mr Clarke, a Tokyo Olympics hopeful and High Performance Trampoline Gymnast, the opportunity to be an ambassador was welcomed as a chance to inspire others.

“If I can be openly and proudly a queer trampolinist on a podium at a local gymnastics comp, or out on the world stage, it may inspire other athletes to be comfortable in their own skin, speak up and be 100% themselves,” he said.

Data from the 2020 PSI National Survey showed that just 44% of LGBTIQ people felt mentally well within their sport, with 44% of people who are not an active LGBTIQ Ally saying they were too busy to be engaged in individual activities.

Pride in Sport National Program Manager Beau Newell said creating a much safer sporting culture for LGBTIQ people has never been more important.

“By joining Pride in Sport and working with ACON, Gymnastics NSW is showing the community they care about the health and wellbeing of their athletes and members across the state,” Mr Newell said.

“Congratulations to Gymnastics NSW for leading the way in changing Australia’s sporting culture to be more inclusive.”

Role: Relationship Manager, Pride in Sport

Join the Pride in Sport team and help Australian sporting organisations deliver best practice LGBTQ inclusion initiatives. 

Pride in Sport is an ACON Pride Inclusion Program, specifically designed to assist sporting organisations of all levels with the inclusion of employees, athletes, coaches, volunteers and spectators with diverse sexualities and genders.

Pride in Sport sits within ACON’s Pride Inclusion Programs alongside Pride in Diversity and Pride in Health + Wellbeing.

ACON is Australia’s largest LGBTQ health organisation, focusing on inclusion, diversity, health and wellbeing, HIV prevention and support services.  We are a fiercely proud community organisation. For our entire history, the work of ACON has been designed by and for our communities.

We provide a range of services designed to improve the health and wellbeing of our communities.

About you:

• Highly engaged, motivated, and proactive
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Passionate about LGBTQ diversity and inclusion and sport
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team
• Exceptional influencing and stakeholder management experience

Reporting to the Pride in Sport National Program Manager, our new Pride in Sport Relationship Manager will ideally be based in Melbourne (negotiable) and will have a strong track record in relationship and stakeholder management and support as a trusted advisor.

This role will initially be a 0.6 FTE position, working three days per week,  with the anticipation of growing to 1.0 FTE (full time) as the portfolio grows for 1 year contract (possibility to extend).

This is a busy and highly rewarding role for a person with an interest in sport and the LGBTQ community.

This is a fantastic role and we are keen to welcome another high-calibre employee to ACON.

For more information about the role please contact, Beau Newell, Pride in Sport National Program Manager at bnewell@acon.org.au or 0429 196 108.

Applications close 11:59pm, Sunday 20 June 2021.  

Download: Position Description – Relationship Manager Pride in Sport

Download: Job Pack – Relationship Manager Pride in Sport

Find Out More

For more information about ACON recruitment, please contact ACON’s Human Resources Team:
vacancy@acon.org.au
(02) 9206 2000

Tennis Australia, Cricket Australia, National Rugby League and Athletics Australia are among a range of sporting bodies and individuals who have been recognised for their efforts in advancing LGBTQ inclusion at the Australian Pride in Sport Awards, held today at the Hyatt Regency in Sydney.

Celebrating its fourth year, the Australian Pride in Sport Awards is the country’s premier celebration dedicated to recognising outstanding efforts in making sport more inclusive for 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.

BlocHaus Port Melbourne was recognised as the Sporting Organisation of the Year, as well as reaching the highest-level tier for LGBTQ inclusion. The Glam Slam at the Australian Open received the Inclusive Initiative Award, while Touch Football Australia and Athletics Australia’s Jane Russo took out the LGBTQ Ally of the Year Award. Guardian Australia journalist Megan Maurice received the Positive Media Award for her barrier-tackling article, ‘Tackling homophobic attitudes: the straight men who play for gay rugby clubs’.

The awards showcase the results of the Australian Pride in Sport Index– a national benchmarking instrument used to assess LGBTQ inclusion within Australian sport.

This year’s PSI marks a milestone with the awarding of Gold status – the highest benchmark level – to five organisations: Cricket Australia, BlocHaus Port Melbourne, Macquarie University Sport, Tennis Australia and RMIT University Sport. Silver recognition was awarded to the Sydney Sixers BBL Cricket Club, Cricket Victoria, Hockey Victoria and Hockey Australia, and Bronze went to National Rugby League, Football Victoria, Athletics Australia and Touch Football Australia.

Community recognition is also a fundamental part of the awards with accolades going to grassroot individuals and clubs across various sporting codes for their efforts in making their respective sports more inclusive. (See next page for complete list of award recipients.)

Co-Founder of the Pride in Sport Index, Andrew Purchas, said: “Despite recent disruptions that we all faced around the country, many of Australia’s sporting organisations are demonstrating their continued dedication in ensuring that LGBTQ people are welcome in their respective sport.

“As demonstrated by the global-first joint launch of inclusion measures for trans and gender diverse people undertaken last year by major Australian sporting codes, many organisations have heard the growing demand throughout the country to ensure 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.

“I congratulate all the award recipients and nominees, 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,” Mr Purchas said.

The awards ceremony was emceed by ABC journalist and last year’s Media Award recipient, Mon Schafter, who was joined by Pride in Sport co-patrons – Australian cricket icon Alex Blackwell and NRL legend Ian Roberts.

National Program Manager for Pride in Sport Beau Newell said: “Since it was established in 2016, the Pride in Sport Index has continued to see a tangible shift in practice with LGBTQ inclusion work in Australian sport. With a wide and growing range of sporting organisations participating, we are seeing greater and demonstrable commitments to providing safer and more inclusive environments and experiences for sexuality and gender diverse people.

“As society becomes more inclusive, so too must sport. 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.

“I 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.

ENDS

2021 Pride in Sport Awards Recipients

ABOUT PRIDE IN SPORT

Pride in Sport is a national not-for-profit program that assists sporting organisations at all levels with the inclusion of LGBTQ employees, athletes, volunteers and spectators. It is part of ACON’s Pride Inclusion Programs, Australia’s largest LGBTQ health organisation, which provides a range of services to employers, sporting organisations and service providers with support in all aspects of LGBTQ inclusion. All funds generated through membership and ticketed events go back into the work of Pride in Sport, actively working alongside sporting organisations, clubs and participants to make Australian sport inclusive of LGBTQ communities. For more information, visit the Pride in Sport website, here – www.prideinsport.com.au

ABOUT THE PRIDE IN SPORT INDEX

The Pride in Sport Index (PSI) is an independently administered benchmarking system that provides the opportunity for all sporting organisations to have their LGBTQ related initiatives, programs and policies reviewed, measured and monitored. An initiative of the Australian Human Rights Commission, the Australian Sports Commission and a legacy of the Bingham Cup Sydney 2014 (the world cup of gay rugby), it was developed alongside an advisory group that includes representatives from the National Rugby League (NRL), the Australian Football League (AFL), the Australian Rugby Union (ARU), Football Federation Australia (FFA), Cricket Australia, Swimming Australia, Water Polo Australia, Basketball Australia and Golf Australia. For more information, visit the Pride in Sport website, here – www.prideinsport.com.au/psi

For more information please contact:

David Alexander, ACON Media and Communications

E: dalexander@acon.org.au   T: (02) 9206 2044   M: 0428 477 042