Australia is often the home ground for varying levels of disasters, and 2019/2020 was no exception.
To begin a new decade, we were hit with a constant onslaught of events, including extreme drought which led to bushfires (that produced smoke which was seen across the globe), destroyed 8,000+ homes and buildings, and saw more than one billion animals killed. This was shortly followed by floods that came with the heaviest rainfall in 30+ years, devastating communities for the second time in two months. And if natural disasters weren’t enough, a global health emergency (COVID-19 pandemic) was thrown in for good measure just to keep us on our toes.
What’s more is that the culmination of these events has caused mass devastation to sporting codes across Australia. From game cancellations, to thousands of staff losing their jobs (whether temporarily or indefinitely). The heartache has been felt at all levels of sport, from grass roots all the way to international events.
So, why on earth would a sporting organisation look to invest time and money on diversity and inclusion (D&I) work?
OK, lets break it down for you…
What we know from those within sport:
In early 2020, over 600 individuals from across various Australian sporting codes participated in the Pride in Sport Index (PSI) survey. Of those surveyed, 57.5% of people believed that their sport should put more effort into the LGBTQ+ aspect of diversity and inclusion work. This is reinforced by 85.6% of respondents confirming it is important that sporting employers be active in this area of diversity & inclusion. [i]
At least 59.5% of people believe a sporting organisations positive track record on LGBTQ+ inclusion would influence them to join that sport, heightening the importance of actively and visibly working in this space.
Further, just 28% of respondents strongly agreed that their organisation had a focus on diversity and inclusion work for people with diverse genders and sexualities, despite 33.5% of respondents saying they have witnessed forms of negative behaviour / mild harassment targeting people with diverse sexualities and genders within their own sporting organisation.
Mental Health & Wellbeing.
Recently, the Prime Minister of Australia highlighted the dire news that support centres such as Beyond Blue, Lifeline and Kids Helpline received between 25-56% increases, respectively, in call for help during the COVID-19 pandemic, compared to the same time last year.
Furthermore, those individuals who live between the margins or the minorities of Australian society are more vulnerable and susceptible to the mental health impacts of COVID-19, with 54% of LGBTQ+ people having experienced more mental health issues during COVID-19 compared to 44% of the rest of the population. While being LBGTQ doesn’t increase the likelihood of getting COVID-19, being a minority population means the impact is more heavily felt.
Even prior to COVID-19, we knew that:
Young lesbian, gay and bisexual people are 5 times more likely, and Trans & Gender Diverse people are nearly 11 times more likely to attempt suicide in their lifetime.[ii]
LGBTQ+ people are up to six times more likely to experience or be diagnosed with anxiety and/or depression.ii
Adding to all of this is the potential threat of sporting organisations decreasing or obliterating their diversity and inclusion (D&I) budget and/or workforce all together. Irrespective of the reasoning (e.g. budget cuts, reduced income etc.), not having LGBTQ+ diversity and inclusion as part of Australian sports strategic plans could be Australia’s fifth major disaster of 2020.
I don’t say that lightly.
People with diverse genders and sexualities already have an uphill battle to feel included, safe and welcome in sport. Dropping the ball on LGBTQ+ inclusion work will have a negative impact on sports across the country (not just the individual).
We need to broaden the definition of D&I work to capture the new challenges of working during a pandemic. This should see an approach that focuses on solving real problems and not maintaining appearances.
The benefit is achievable
It doesn’t have to be all doom and gloom though. Sporting organisations could benefit from a positive impact if it were to boostthis line of work. Participation rates, increased memberships, higher spectator attendance, and even winning the war on candidate recruitment for working or volunteer roles. These are just some of the things a sporting organisation can benefit from.
There has never been a more critical time to demonstrate how well sport can play a role in an individual’s positive health and wellbeing. The beauty is, we don’t need to wait until sport resumes to show how beneficial and inclusive it can be. So, there is no excuse.
D&I work is essential work. Nothing less.
Now is not the time to slow, or stop, D&I work. Today, right now, is the opportune time to embed LGBTQ+ inclusion into your strategic plans. Begin work on governance improvements, participate in online learning activities, and ensure D&I work is solidified as “the norm”.
LGBTQ+ inclusion is essential and critical work that all sporting organisations must be doing, because we are all diverse by default. By not focusing on and/or boosting D&I work, sporting organisations are saying that their members, volunteers, supporters and indeed its workforce are not essential.
Until we can remove all the barriers and disparities faced by diverse populations, we need diversity and inclusion to advocate for change. Sporting organisations must play a vital role in this, or risk losing out.
Learn more about LGBTQ+ inclusion in sport and what you can do, contact Pride in Sport Australia – info@prideinsport.com.au
[i] PSI2020. Pride in Sport, ACON, www.prideinsport.com.au
[ii] LGBTI Health Alliance, Statistics, https://lgbtihealth.org.au/statistics/
There’s no shortage of movies to watch on any given day, however there are some that we absolutely have to suggest you watch to help celebrate IDAHOBIT, this Sunday 17 May 2020.
In the spirit of the IDAHOBIT being on the 17th of May, we explore 17 LGBTQ and sport related movies that will pull your heart strings, make you yell profanities at the TV screen, and allow you to escape for the shortest of times to remember what it was like to play sport, pre COVID-19.
So grab some popcorn, a cup of tea, sit back and enjoy!
1. Personal Best
Personal Best is a 1982 American drama film written, produced, and directed by Robert Towne. The movie stars Mariel Hemingway and real-life track star Patrice Donnelly, along with Scott Glenn as the coach of the track team. Chris Cahill is a young track-and-field athlete who competes unsuccessfully in the 1976 U.S. Olympic trials. She meets a more experienced competitor, Tory Skinner, and their friendship evolves into a romantic relationship. The two are part of a group of women trying to qualify for the American track-and-field team bound for the 1980 Olympic Games. Despite their commitment to their training regimen, their dreams are thwarted when the United States announces its boycott of the Games for political reasons, leaving them with only the informal “personal best” marks they achieved during training to connote their achievements.
2. Handsome Devil
Handsome Devil is a 2016 Irish comedy-drama film directed by John Butler. It was screened in the Contemporary World Cinema section at the 2016 Toronto International Film Festival. It centres around an ostracised teenager (Fionn O’Shea) at an elite, rugby-obsessed, all-boys boarding school in Ireland modelled on Castleknock and Blackrock, whose new roommate (Nicholas Galitzine) is the school’s new rugby star-player. The two form an unlikely friendship until it is tested by those around them. The film features themes of gay subtext, while examining the hypocrisy and snobbery of the Irish private school system. Handsome Devil received critical acclaim, winning the award for Best Irish Feature of 2017 from the Dublin Film Critics’ Circle; four nominations at the 2018 Irish Film and Television Academy (IFTA) Awards, including Best Feature Film; and the Best Single Drama Award at the annual Celtic Media Festival in 2018.
3. F(l)ag Football
F(l)ag Football is a 2015 American documentary film on the National Gay Flag Football League directed by Seth Greenleaf. It documents the training of players on the NGFFL’s New York Warriors team as they prepare for the Gay Bowl. The documentary explores masculinity in sports. The documentary stars, Wade Davis, team captain of the New York Warriors, Cyd Zeigler, co-founder of the NGFFL, Brenton Metzler, and Jared Garduno.
4. Alone in the Game
From Creator and Executive Producer, David McFarland comes ‘Alone In The Game‘ a feature-length documentary that follows a group of elite athletes and iconic figures from the biggest stages in sport, including the NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, MLS, and NCAA, among others, to explore the ongoing struggles LGBT athletes are facing at the professional, collegiate and Olympic levels. An exploration of the big business of sports exposes a culture of exclusion, bigotry and discrimination which keeps these athletes in the closet and living in silence. Subjects include three closeted athletes who share their personal journeys, as well as NBA Commissioner Adam Silver, former ESPN President John Skipper, NBA center Jason Collins, NFL linemen Ryan O’Callaghan, MLS Cup champion Robbie Rogers, and Olympic medalists Gus Kenworthy and Megan Rapinoe.
5. Guys and Balls
Guys and Balls (German: Männer wie wir, literally Men like us, UK title: Balls) is a 2004 sports comedy/romance film by German American director Sherry Hormann about a gay goalkeeper who assembles a gay-only soccer team to play against his ex-team, which fired him due to being gay. A battle for gay rights is fought on a small-time football field in this comedy drama from Germany. Ecki (Maximilian Brückner) is a talented soccer goalie who plays with a semi-pro team in a small German town, but he finds himself on the outs with his teammates when he fails to block a kick that costs the team the league championship. Ecki’s relationship with the team goes from bad to worse when they discover he’s gay, and they give him his walking papers. Furious, Ecki challenges his former team to a special match in which they’ll face off against an all-gay team he’ll assemble for the occasion. The homophobic team agrees to the match, but Ecki soon discovers finding ten capable gay footballers is no easy task, and making them into a competitive team is even harder.
6. OUT in the line-up
OUT in the line-up follows the story of two gay surfers who unite to bring this issue out into the open. Together they embark on a global journey to hear the perspectives of people from all corners of the surfing community including former world champion Cori Schumacher, big wave rider Keala Kennelly and former US Congressman Barney Frank. As their journey unfolds, they uncover a culture of fear, secrecy and exclusion but are also inspired to affect change by connecting people, provoking discussion and looking to surfing’s grassroots values of freedom of spirit and love for the ocean.
7. Beautiful Boxer
Beautiful Boxer (Thai: บิวตี้ฟูล บ๊อกเซอร์) is a Thai biographical sports film by Singapore-based director Ekachai Uekrongtham. It tells the life story of Parinya Charoenphol, a famous kathoey (trans woman), Muay Thai fighter, actress and model. Starting off as a young priest at a Buddhist temple, Toom eventually joined a Muay Thai fighting camp and earned enough money to support her family and get gender confirmation surgery before she jump-kicked her way into the Asian international spotlight. She was portrayed by male kickboxer Asanee Suwan.
8. The Broken Hearts Club
The Broken Hearts Club is a 2000 American romantic comedy-drama film written and directed by Greg Berlanti. It follows the lives of a group of gay friends in West Hollywood, centered on a restaurant owned by the fatherly Jack (John Mahoney) and the softball team he sponsors. The friends rely on each other for friendship and support as they search for love, deal with loss, and discover themselves. The Broken Hearts Club was Berlanti’s first feature film, based around his circle of friends at the time. The movie was met with generally favorable reviews from critics, receiving praise from the LGBTQ community. The film focuses on “the universal themes of romance, acceptance and family”, as opposed to AIDS, coming out, and sex, which are more controversial and stereotypical topics commonly covered in LGBT films of this time.
9. Morgan
Morganis a 2012 film directed by Michael Akers, produced by Michael D. A young, paralyzed, gay athlete attempts to live his life in a situation far from desirable. After an accident leaves him paralyzed from the waist down, Morgan Oliver (played by Leo Minaya), is first seen wallowing in a state of depression, drowning his sorrows in beer as he watches bicycle racing (the sport that at once defined his sense of purpose and drove him to his catalytic accident) on television. He meets Dean Kagan (played by Jack Kesy) who helps him through the way and a romantic relationship develops between the two. Once Morgan knows about the New York Haven Cycle Race, he decides to take part in the race with the help of Kagan and sponsorship from Tread Bike Shop.
10. Breakfast with Scot
Breakfast with Scot is a 2007 Canadian comedy film. It is adapted from the novel by Tufts University professor Michael Downing. Eric McNally (Tom Cavanagh) is a gay retired hockey player turned television sportscaster who lives with his partner Sam (Ben Shenkman), a sports lawyer. When Sam unexpectedly becomes the legal guardian of his brother’s stepson, Scot (Noah Bernett), their lives are turned upside down as the demands of being a parent — as well as the boy’s preference for clothing and hobbies which suggest that he may also be gay — begin to intrude on Eric’s desire to remain closeted at work. Eric’s unwillingness to accept the situation eventually fades as Scot teaches Eric about loving your true self.
11. The Pass
The Pass is a 2016 film starring Russell Tovey and Arinze Kene. It was directed by Ben A. Williams, based on a play by John Donnelly. Nineteen-year-olds Jason and Ade have been in the Academy of a famous London football club since they were eight years old. It’s the night before their first-ever game for the first team — a Champions League match — and they’re in a hotel room in Romania. They should be sleeping, but they’re over-excited. They skip, fight, mock each other, prepare their kit, watch a teammate’s sex tape. And then, out of nowhere, one of them kisses the other. The impact of this ‘pass’ reverberates through the next ten years of their lives — a decade of fame and failure, secrets and lies, in a sporting world where image is everything. The film was nominated at the 2017 BAFTA Awards, in the category of Outstanding Debut by a British Writer, Director or Producer for John Donnelly (writing) and Ben Williams (direction).
12. Shelter
Shelteris a 2007 American romantic drama film produced by JD Disalvatore and directed and written by Jonah Markowitz. Love brings together two men who aren’t sure where to fit a relationship into their lives in this romantic drama. Living in the oceanfront working-class community of San Pedro, Zach (Trevor Wright) is a young man in his early twenties who has been forced into the role of emotional anchor for his dysfunctional family; his mother his dead, his father is too ill to work, his sister Jeannie (Tina Holmes) is too busy partying to look after her five-year-old son Cody (Jackson Wurth), and Zach is the only one with the wherewithal to hold down a job and keep the rent paid. While hanging out with his surfing buddy Gabe (Ross Thomas), Zach meets Gabe’s brother, the struggling gay writer Shaun (Brad Rowe), who has taken a break from Tinseltown while rebounding from a dysfunctional relationship. Shaun goes surfing with Zach one day, and the two discover they’re powerfully attracted to one another, and a flirtation turns into a love affair. As Shaun has to explain to his girlfriend why he no longer wants to be with her, Zach tries to make Jeannie and his father understand why he’s come out of the closet.
13. Game Face
Game Face shows the quest to self-realization of LGBTQ athletes and the acceptance in society. This documentary tells the parallel story of Fallon Fox, MMA’s first transgender pro fighter, and Terrence Clemens, a college basketball player in Oklahoma who happens to be gay. The film follows both athletes during their coming out process, and sheds light on the obstacles LGBTQ sports players deal with throughout their career. Former NBA star Jason Collins shines as a mentor for Terrence in this inspiring documentary.
14. Forbidden Games
Justin Fashanu rose to fame in 1980 after scoring the goal of the season against Liverpool, leading a generation of black footballers through the English league. Abandoned as a child and raised by a white foster family in the UK, he faced plenty of uphill battles. But despite bigotry and bullying from unruly football fans during the Thatcher era, Fashanu blazed his own trail by also becoming the first openly gay athlete on the pitch. He had the talent, swagger and charisma to become one of the most celebrated athletes Britain had ever seen. Through unprecedented access to coaches, teammates and family, filmmakers Adam Darke and Jon Carey unpack one of the most fascinating and ultimately tragic sports stories you’ll ever see. Forbidden Games not only explores Fashanu’s battle with issues of race and sexuality in professional sports, but also the understanding that not everyone is ready for the spotlight.
15. Man Made
Man Made takes us into the heart of transgender male (FTM) culture, revealing unexpected truths about gender, masculinity, humanity and love. Four trans men (who like the film’s director were born and raised female), take a variety of life paths toward stepping on stage at Trans FitCon, the only all-transgender bodybuilding competition in the world (held in Atlanta, GA). Man Made is a character-driven, intimate, and riveting verité-style competition film, but also a unique social justice narrative. It speaks to the ways in which we all choose to define and reshape ourselves, both figuratively and literally. The strength on display in Man Made transcends the physical: Rese is a young father struggling with periods of homelessness; Dominic seeks out his family of origin, confronting an alternate history for himself; Kennie admits to himself and his loved ones who he is for the first time in his life; and Mason, a loving husband who struggles with mental illness, works daily to be the man he’s always wanted to be-on both the inside and out. Follow these subjects’ emotional and physical journeys as they navigate lives as the men they are, despite very real risks inherent in the current social and political climate. For the men of Man Made, it’s not about winning-it’s about being seen.
16. Back on Board: Greg Louganis
An intimate portrait of an American legend, Back on Board: Greg Louganis, is a feature-length documentary that tells the life story of this four-time Olympic Champion as he returns to diving after a long period of absence. Back on Board explores the captivating, compelling, and complicated life of an Olympic star whose athletic talent sparked a worldwide fascination with diving. Part biography, part social exploration – this film reveals Louganis’ evolution from childhood diving prodigy to Olympic champion, and from pioneering openly gay athlete with HIV to a sometimes forgotten sports icon. Back on Board is an engrossing story about an American legend.
17. The Ice King
The Ice King is the searing documentary of a lost cultural icon, a story of art, sport, sexuality, and rebellion. Including incredible unseen footage of some of his most remarkable performances and with access to Curry’s letters, archive interviews, and interviews with his family, friends and collaborators, this is a portrait of the man who turned ice-skating from a dated sport into an exalted art form. After winning gold at the Winter Olympics for a rebelliously balletic routine, Curry saw the world’s stages sheeted with ice. Audiences and reviewers alike were enthralled by his genius. But Curry’s story is about more than skating. On the night of the final, Curry became the first openly gay Olympian at a time when homosexuality was barely legal. From bullying and prejudice, to relief in the gay underworld, to his untimely death from AIDS, Curry’s story dovetails with the experiences of a generation. Tortured by demons, Curry was forever on the run. Never owning a home, he lived on the favours of those who loved him. The only place he found true freedom was the ice.
About IDAHOBIT
The International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia, Interphobia and Transphobia was created in 2004 to draw the attention to the violence and discrimination experienced by lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex people and all other people with diverse sexual orientations, gender identities or expressions, and sex characteristics.
The date of May 17th was specifically chosen to commemorate the World Health Organization’s decision in 1990 to declassify homosexuality as a mental disorder.
The day represents a major global annual landmark to draw the attention of decision makers, the media, the public, corporations, opinion leaders, local authorities, etc. to the alarming situation faced by people with diverse sexual orientations, gender identities or expressions, and sex characteristics. It is also one of the biggest days of significance supported by Australian sporting organisations.
In relation to reports today on the unlawful distribution of arrest photos in Melbourne, Pride in Sport Chairperson Andrew Purchas has released the following statement:
Pride in Sport is aware of photos of a former AFL coach that were unlawfully leaked online.
It appears the photos were circulated to various media outlets, some of which look to have enhanced and redistributed these private photos, without the individual’s consent.
Such action is shameful, unethical and a complete breach of privacy.
Disappointingly, some of the reporting has sensationalised aspects of the photos in a manner that disrespects the experience of sexuality and gender diverse people.
Pride in Sport condemn all forms of discrimination against any person, irrespective of their gender identity or expression.
This breach of privacy and sensationalist reporting creates unnecessary platforms for transphobic and homophobic social commentary, which is intolerable. Such actions take away a person’s dignity, and plays a role in perpetuating exclusion, prejudice, anxiety and stress to those within the LGBTQ+ community, as well as their families and allies.
We encourage all organisations and media outlets to take a zero-tolerance stance against homophobic and transphobic discrimination and actions, regardless of an individual’s social or professional stature within society.
For more information about Pride in Sport and LGBTQ+ inclusion, please visit – www.prideinsport.com.au
For more information please contact:
David Alexander, ACON Media and Communications
E: dalexander@acon.org.au T: (02) 9206 2044 M: 0428 477 042
ACON Health has published an online clearinghouse linking people of diverse sexualities and genders to information and support relating to COVID-19.
The digital portal is for LGBTQ people and people living with HIV seeking relevant and up-to-date information on the current pandemic. It contains articles, tips, factsheets and resources that ACON has produced across its vast digital health promotion network, as well as links to other LGBTQ community organisations, support services, authoritative websites and sources.
ACON CEO Nicolas Parkhill said: “We know there is a lot of information out there and it can be confusing to know what is timely, what is evidence-based and what may be the source. We want to make it as easy as possible for our communities to access information relevant to them, at a central destination.
“This online clearinghouse brings together all the critical information our communities need to make informed decisions about their health and wellbeing during these uncertain times.
“It is dynamic and will be updated daily, and regularly.
“Importantly, it provides information for people who need to know what LGBTQ specific services are available and where and how they can access them.
“During these challenging times, it is most important that we remain informed, keep positive and stay safe,” Parkhill said.
“We know how to look after ourselves and each other, and now is an important time for that.”
View ACON’s online COVID-19 clearinghouse on the ACON website at acon.org.au/covid19
Pride in Sport is a part of ACON’s Pride Inclusion Programs
International Transgender Day of Visibility (TDOV) is an event occurring annually on 31 March dedicated to celebrating transgender people and raising awareness of discrimination faced by transgender people worldwide, as well as a celebration of their contributions to society.
Transgender and Gender Diverse people aged 18 and over are nearly eleven times more likely to attempt suicide, eighteen times more likely to think about suicide, and are nearly 5 times more likely to be diagnosed with depression in their lifetime compared to the general population.
Sport should be a safe and welcoming environment for people with diverse genders and sexualities, and we aim so help sporting codes to achieve this, across Australia.
Beau Newell National Program Manager Pride in Sport – ACON’s Pride inclusion Programs
Learn & Celebrate
Statistics
Developed by LGBTI Health Alliance, This document aims to provide a snapshot of what is known of the current mental health and wellbeing outcomes of LGBTI people in Australia.
This blueprint outlines the key approaches required to improve the health outcomes of trans and gender diverse people and to strengthen the inclusion of TGD people within ACON’s programs and services.
Sport Australia partnered with the Australian Human Rights Commission and COMPPS to develop Guidelines for the inclusion of transgender and gender diverse people in sport.
ACON’s Language Guide for Trans and Gender Diverse Inclusion explains key terms and offers examples of preferred language that can help us build safer, more inclusive environments for trans and gender diverse communities across Australia.
Use this opportunity to show your support for trans and gender diverse people, and purchase trans pride pins and help support ACON’s Pride Inclusion Programs continue its great work.
Writing a media release?
Pride in Sport encourages the use of the Australian Press Council’s Advisory Guideline for Reporting on persons with diverse sexual orientation, gender identity and sex characteristics.
WATCH NOW: We are proud to bring you TransHub, ACON’s digital information and resource platform for all trans and gender diverse people in NSW, our loved ones, allies and health providers.
We are proud to bring you TransHub, a digital information and resource platform for all trans and gender diverse (TGD) people in NSW, our loved ones, allies and health providers.
This platform is an initiative from ACON, NSW’s leading health organisation specialising in community health, inclusion and HIV responses for people of diverse sexualities and genders.
TransHub offers the information that many of us so desperately needed, but didn’t have access to as we grew up or grew toward our most authentic selves.
ACON is Australia’s largest not-for-profit health organisation for people of diverse sexualities and genders. We are a fiercely proud community organisation, and our first priority will always be the health and safety of those we engage with: our colleagues, members, event attendees and all event partners.
As a result of Prime Minister Morrison’s weekend announcement on the cancellation of events with over 500 attendees and the need to seriously consider any other non-essential events or gatherings alongside social distancing protocols, we would like to inform you of the precautionary steps that we have taken to protect the health and safety of all.
Pride in Sport Awards and Australian LGBTQ Inclusion Awards (AWEI and HWEI)
As a result of government advice regarding the COVID-19 pandemic, the Australian LGBTQ Inclusion Awards, scheduled for 22 May 2020, and the Pride in Sport Awards, scheduled for 1 April 2020, have now been postponed. New dates will be announced shortly.
We do not want to postpone these important awards events but obviously, the timing could not have been worse. It is important however, that we celebrate the amazing work and achievements of those participating in the index, alongside the work of individual award nominees who have really made a difference in terms of inclusion.
We will update you with all details as soon as we have secured dates, but at this point in time, we are anticipating holding both the Australian LGBTQ Inclusion Awards and the Pride in Sport Awards later in the year.
Of course, we will refund full ticket prices for those who cannot attend on the rescheduled date. Any tickets reimbursed will be offered first to those on our waiting list and then opened to the general public.
AWEI, HWEI and PSI Awards Results
All those participating within the AWEI, HWEI or the PSI will receive their results by the date of the original awards event. Results will include your overall scorecard detailing all scores obtained, employee survey results for those that participated and an AWEI, PSI or HWEI 2020 electronic logo to show participation that you are free to use both internally and externally.
However, all employer, sport and health tier rankings (Platinum, Gold, Silver, Bronze etc) and associated index and individual award winners will not be announced until the rescheduled event later in the year.
The finalists for the 2020 Australian Pride in Sport Awards have been announced. Now in its third year, the event – to be held on Wednesday 1 April in Melbourne – will see sporting identities, clubs and codes across the country gather to celebrate LGBTQ inclusion throughout Australian sport in 2019.
First held in 2018, the Australian Pride in Sport Awards is the first celebration of its kind dedicated solely to recognising exceptional efforts in making 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.
This year, the Australian Pride in Sport Awards will feature international star Adam Hills as the keynote speaker. A five-time Gold Logie nominee, Hills is one of Australia’s best known comedians, hosting Spicks and Specks and Adam Hills Tonight. Hills has now taken the UK by storm with his own talk show on Channel Four, The Last Leg.
The cocktail evening will feature drinks and canapes at Showtime Events Centre on Melbourne’s South Wharf Promenade. The event will be hosted by Ladies Who League founder Mary Konstantopoulos.
Konstantopoulos is a senior regulatory adviser at nbn, after previously spending five years as a lawyer at Clayton Utz in Sydney. She is the founder of Ladies Who League, a media company that champions women’s involvement in rugby league and has various spinoffs including Ladies Who Legspin and Ladies Who Lineout. As an ambassador for the Full Stop Foundation, Life Education and Women for Change, Mary tops this off with a recent appointment as a Board Member of Hockey Australia.
The Australian Pride in Sport Awards honours athletes, employees and organisations as it showcases the results of the Pride in Sport Index (PSI) – the national benchmarking instrument used to assess LGBTQ inclusion within Australian sport.
The Australian Pride in Sport Awards will feature a host of leading sporting and community figures, including Pride in Sport patron, World Cup and Ashes-winning cricket captain Alex Blackwell. Funds raised from the awards will support efforts making Australian sports inclusive of LGBTQ communities.
ACON Vice President and Co-Founder of the Pride in Sport Index Andrew Purchas said the awards builds on progress in achieving LGBTQ rights and ongoing work in making sporting arenas, fields, and spectator stands more inclusive.
“2019 certainly saw LGBTQ inclusion efforts by sporting codes, and the inclusion of LGBTQ players and athletes in general, dominate the headlines – for better or for worse – as well as in the national discourse,” Purchas said.
“The focus on LGBTQ inclusion, zero tolerance of homophobia and transphobia, not only within the corporate sector via their diversity and inclusion practices, but also within sport and society as a whole is unprecedented. Sport has the opportunity to ensure that this focus translates to meaningful societal change and is not just fad. Sport breaks down barriers. Sport aims to create a fair go for all.”
Pride In Sport National Program Manager Beau Newell added: “Many of Australia’s sporting organisations are recognising positive steps need to be taken to ensure your sexuality or gender identity does not impact your ability to play, watch or be involved with sport at any level. The Australian Pride in Sport Awards allows us to celebrate the outstanding achievements of clubs and individuals in improving and promoting LGBTQ inclusion within Australian sport.”
The 2020 Australian Pride in Sport Awards is on Wednesday 1 April 2020 6pm – 9pm at Showtime Events Centre, 61 S Wharf Promenade, South Wharf, Melbourne. For more information, click here.
2020 AUSTRALIAN PRIDE IN SPORT AWARDS FINALISTS
ALLY OF THE YEAR
Raelene Castle, Rugby Australia
Kara Montoneri, Pride Cup Australia
Kevin Roberts, Cricket Australia
Craig Tiley, Tennis Australia
COMMUNITY SPORTS AWARD
Bushrangers Basketball LGBTQ+ ‘Come Out and Play’ Campaign
Gippsland Rangers Roller Derby’s 1st Australian Roller Derby Pride Cup
Melbourne Rovers LGBTQ+ Soccer Program
Melbourne Uni Water Polo Pride Round
INCLUSIVE INITIATIVE AWARD
Glam Slam at the 2019 Australian Open
Inclusion of trans and gender diverse people in Australian Cricket
Wallsend – West Newcastle Swans (Australian Rules Football)
N.B. Our aim is to announce four finalists across each category. Some categories have less, and some may have more. This has been due to either a lack of eligible nominations, or an excess of competitive nominations.
About Pride In Sport
Launched in 2016, the PSI was developed in conjunction with the Australian Human Rights Commission, the Australian Sports Commission and Bingham Cup Sydney, alongside an advisory group comprising representatives from a range of peak sporting bodies including the National Rugby League, the Australian Football League, the Australian Rugby Union and Football Federation Australia.
The Pride in Sport Index is an initiative of the Australian Human Rights Commission and the Australian Sports Commission and a legacy of the Bingham Cup, Sydney. Following the release of the Out on the Fields study in May 2015, the largest international study examining homophobia in sport, these organisations commissioned Pride in Diversity to develop a Pride in Sport Index.
The Pride in Sport Index™ (PSI) is the first and only benchmarking instrument specifically designed to assess the inclusion of people with diverse sexualities and genders across Australian sport. Participating in the index will allow Australian sporting organisations to not only assess their own practice, but determine that which constitutes good practice, along with the ability to benchmark their own initiatives against an external measure and other sporting organisations.
Pride in Sport is an ACON program, one of three within the Pride Inclusion Programs that specifically look at the inclusion of people of diverse genders and sexualities within sport, the workplace and health service provision.
Media Inquiries:
David Alexander, ACON Media and Communications E: dalexander@acon.org.au T: (02) 9206 2044 M: 0428 477 042
Surf Life Saving Australia (SLSA) has become the newest member of the Australian Pride in Sport program, committing to further develop and enhance the inclusion of people with diverse sexualities and genders across the Surf Life Saving movement.
SLSA joins the ranks of a host of other Australian sporting codes and associations including AFL, NRL, Cricket Australia and Rugby AU.
ACON Health’s Pride in Sport program is the only sporting inclusion program specifically designed to assist National and State sporting organisations and clubs with the inclusion of sexuality and gender diverse employees, participants, coaches, volunteers and spectators.
Adam Weir, CEO of SLSA, is excited about the opportunity that Pride in Sport will play when helping promote positive messages and examples around LGBTQ+ inclusion.
“Surf Life Saving Australia (SLSA) is pleased to have partnered with Pride in Sport. SLSA aims to make beaches across the country a completely inclusive place that everyone feels welcome”, Weir said.
“Surf lifesaving is for everyone and surf lifesavers come from all walks of life and help to create dynamic surf lifesaving clubs that are an integral part of local communities.”
“We want all of our members to feel safe, included and looked after irrespective of age, gender, ethnic background, sexual orientation and economic status.”
The announcement of Surf Life Saving Australia’s commitment to Pride in Sport aligns with the news that Lifesavers with Pride will feature as the principal float at the 2020 Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras parade on February 29.
Lifesavers with Pride have been participating in the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras parade since 2007 with current or previous surf lifesavers from clubs and states all over Australia taking part.
For the first time this year, there are representatives from each state in Australia coming together to perform in front thousands of spectators and special dignitaries including the New South Wales Premier, Sydney City Mayor and global pop sensation Sam Smith.
Surf Life Saving Australia and Lifesavers with Pride have been continuously working closely together to create a more inclusive, progressive and welcoming lifesaving culture for the LGBTQ+ community.
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 working with ACON, Surf Life Saving Australia is showing the community that they care about the health and wellbeing of all of their members,” Newell said.
“Congratulations to Surf Life Saving for leading the way in changing Australia’s sporting and recreation culture, to be more inclusive.”
Kate PalmerAM is a leading Australian sport administrator, and will speak at the 2019 Pride in Practice – Australia’s LGBTI Inclusion Conference.
What is Kate speaking about?
Guidelines for the inclusion of transgender & gender diverse people in sport.
“These Guidelines provide practical assistance on how to create and promote an inclusive environment in Australian sport for transgender and gender diverse people. The Guidelines are relevant to all sporting organisations, from national sporting bodies, to state and local associations”, said Palmer in the guidelines document.
“Truly inclusive sport cannot be accomplished by a few; it must be done in partnership. Everyone across the sport sector has a part to play in being more inclusive, and there are already many great examples in sport of things that everyone can do. But there is still a long way to go. These Guidelines are designed to help us get there.”
Palmer will also facilitate an interactive panel discussion about ‘Improving Australia’s homophobic & transphobic sporting culture’, which will include:
Raelene Castle, CEO of Rugby Australia,
Ricki Coughlan (trans athlete), and
Andy Brennan (out athlete).
Click the below picture to view the full conference program.
Individual guest names will not be required. Passes must be picked up upon registration and will act as your ticket.
Should you purchase an interchangeable ticket,we recommend you leave this at the registration desk at the end of the day, to be picked up by the next person the following day. Should you take your pass with you after the conference has concluded for the day, it will be your responsibility to organise the next person to collect it from you.
All passes must be worn whilst on premise. If you do not have a pass, you will not be allowed to enter.
If you select to pay by invoice, you will receive an invoice directly to the email address you have provided within a week. If you have not by then, please email our office.
All early bird registrations must be paid for in full by Friday 27th of September. If payment is not received by this date, the cost will revert to regular pricing.
Cancellations must be received in writing. For cancellations received before 25th October, a full refund will be issued. For cancellations received within 11-30 days of the conference commencement date, a 50% refund will be issued. Cancellations received within 10 days of the conference will not be issued a refund.
Palmer was the Chief Executive of Netball Victoria from 2000 to 2006.[1][4] In 2007, she was appointed as Chief Executive of Netball Australia and resigned in November 2016.[1][5] In announcing Palmer’s appointment as Chief Executive Officer of the Australian Sports Commission, Minister for Sport, Sussan Ley stated “This is the first female appointment to the role in the ASC’s 31 years of operation, which is a significant personal achievement and milestone for Australian sport. Ms Palmer has an exceptional track record and is well placed to meet the challenges and opportunities of the future of sport in Australia.” [1]
Pride in Sport is calling on all National Sporting Organisations to partner with us to enhance their LGBTIQ inclusion initiatives, governance, visibility, education and more.
So, who are we?
Pride in Sport is Australia’s first and only sporting inclusion program specifically designed to assist National and State sporting organisations (NSO/SSO’s) and clubs with the inclusion of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Intersex (LGBTI) employees, players, volunteers and spectators.
Pride in Sport Index
The Pride in Sport Index is an initiative of the Australian Human Rights Commission and the Australian Sports Commission and a legacy of the Bingham Cup, Sydney. Following the release of the Out on the Fields study in May 2015, the largest international study examining homophobia in sport, these organisations commissioned Pride in Diversity to develop a Pride in Sport Index.
The Pride in Sport Index™ (PSI) is the first and only benchmarking instrument specifically designed to assess the inclusion of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Intersex (LGBTI) people within Australian sport and sporting organisations. Participating in the index will allow Australian sporting organisations to not only assess their own practice, but determine that which constitutes good practice, along with the ability to benchmark their own initiatives against an external measure and other sporting organisations.
An advisory group was established to assist Pride in Diversity in the development of the Pride in Sport Index. The advisory group included; 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.
To find out more on the Pride in Sport Index, click here.
Membership Program:
The Pride in Sport membership program is designed to:
Assist Australian sporting organisations with all aspects of LGBTI inclusion as it pertains to their sport and those working within the sporting organisation;
Work with members to achieve best practice as benchmarked by the Pride in Sport Index (PSI);
Create better health outcomes for LGBTI players, coaches, fans and others by creating inclusive spaces though the reduction of homophobia, stigma and discrimination.
To find out more about the Pride in Sport Membership Program, please click here.
Who has already worked with us?
Over the history of the Pride in Sport program, the following NSO’s have either been a principle partner, joined our membership program, participated in the Index (PSI), and/or contracted us for consulting/education:
There are three aspects we are strongly encouraging NSO’s consider. They are;
Participate in the Pride in Sport Index (PSI). It’s FREE, and you don’t have to be a member. It’s the best way to measure your LGBTQ inclusivity.
Join as either a Principle Partner or Standard Member of Pride in Sport. Membership comes with a large range of benefits, and is tailored to what you need.
Engage us to deliver education/training sessions to your staff, leaders, board, states and athletes. Training can be delivered as a part of your membership, or though a fee-for-service model.
Who to contact:
To ask questions, get quotes or just find out more, please speak to:
Beau Newell
National Program Manager
E: beau@prideinsport.com.au
M: 0429 196 108
Sport Australia has been an ongoing stakeholder in the Pride in Sport program, and will also be too happy to share their insights and advice on moving forward with any of the three above actions to take. Feel free to contact –
Merrilee Barnes
Director Safe & Inclusive Sport.
E: merrilee.barnes@ausport.gov.au
About IDAHOBIT
Pride in Sport Awards and Australian LGBTQ Inclusion Awards (AWEI and HWEI)
This year, the Australian Pride in Sport Awards will feature international star Adam Hills as the keynote speaker. A five-time Gold Logie nominee, Hills is one of Australia’s best known comedians, hosting Spicks and Specks and Adam Hills Tonight. Hills has now taken the UK by storm with his own talk show on Channel Four, The Last Leg.
