Transgender and Gender Diverse Governance in Sport
In a world first, eight peak sporting bodies have committed to implementing governance that supports a greater level of inclusion for trans and gender diverse people in their sports.
At a launch held on Thursday 1 October 2020 (9:00am AEST) at the Sydney Cricket Ground, leading national sporting organisations (NSOs) came together to unveil their policies and guidelines relating to the participation of trans and gender diverse people.
“We are pleased to collaborate with all the major sporting organisations of Australia in taking this important practical and symbolic step towards improved inclusion in sport and the community more generally.”
~ Gillon McLachlan, CEO
“Today is a significant moment in Australian sport with this announcement clearly demonstrating a fundamental shift towards making sure that a number of national sporting organisations are all committed to further developing an inclusive culture in sport.”
~ Nick Hockley, Interim CEO
“The release of these guidelines is a relatively small gesture from the sport, but one that we know is so very significant for the people it will impact. It is wonderful to see a truly whole of sport commitment to the inclusion of the trans and gender diverse community.”
~ Matt Favier, CEO
“We feel proud to release our policy as a part of the Pride In Sport announcement today. Policies and guidelines such as these continue to improve inclusion and diversity standards across Australian sport.”
~ Marne Fechner, CEO
“Rugby Australia wishes to applaud Pride in Sport for their efforts in ensuring all communities feel safe, welcomed and included in their chosen sport. Our code aligns with these values and has worked hard over the years to remove barriers for people wanting to play Rugby.”
~ Rob Clarke, Interim CEO
“As a sport, tennis is unwavering in playing our part to ensure an inclusive society, and we welcome the introduction of these guidelines in making our communities accessible for all.”
~ Craig Tiley, CEO
“In Touch Football, we are always striving to provide a ‘place on the field for everyone’, a sport that ‘everyone can play’, but we can’t just say that without action – we need to provide meaningful guidelines and resources for those who deliver and participate in our sport so we can create Touch communities that are genuinely safe and inclusive.”
~ Jamie O’Connor, CEO
“UniSport Australia applauds and congratulates Pride in Sport and the nine national sporting organisations involved in today’s announcement. The new sports specific trans and gender diverse policies are a significant step forward to providing a safe and inclusive environment in sport across all levels of sport in which we are proud to be part of.”
~ Mark Sinderberry, CEO
“As a founding member of Pride in Sport, Water Polo Australia is proud to join today with leading national sporting organisations to further extend our sport inclusion policies to include transgender and gender diverse people.”
~ Richard McInnis, CEO
Pledging Sports
In addition to the above sports, a range of NSOs have also committed to developing trans and gender diverse inclusion frameworks for their sports following the launch, including:
This initiative, spearheaded by ACON’s Pride in Sport program, Australia’s only program specifically designed to assist sporting organisations with the inclusion of people of diverse sexualities and genders at all levels, was undertaken following the identification of a need for national guidance on how NSOs can be inclusive of trans and gender diverse people.
Support Services
Lifeline is Australia’s leading suicide prevention service. We are a national charity providing all Australians experiencing a personal crisis with access to 24-hour crisis support. We are here for you.
LGBTQ people may experience discrimination, harassment and hostility in many parts of their everyday life – in their places of work and education, when accessing health or other services. Issues impacting people who identify as LGBTQ can be complex and varying, unique to each individual, family and community. As such, the experience, response and impact for each person will differ from person to person.
Lifeline is committed to listening and supporting you, without judgement.
While each person will respond to and cope with these types of experiences and issues in different ways, some signs to look out for that you, or someone you care about is struggling are:
- Feeling low in mood and sad
- Feelings of helplessness and hopelessness
- Thoughts of suicide
- Feeling irritable
- Changes to appetite and sleep
- Difficulty concentrating
- Extreme worry
- Difficultly winding down or relaxing
- Feelings of tension, in the mind and in the body
- Feelings of nervousness
- Feeling uncertain or confused about identity and sense of self
If you, or someone you care for is in need of support, please call Lifeline to speak to a trained Crisis Supporter on 13 11 14 (24 hours / 7 days) or text Lifeline on 0477 13 11 14 (6pm-midnight AEST, 7 nights). We are here to listen.
Other Support Services include:
- ACON: 1800 063 060
- 1800 RESPECT: 1800 737 732
- Beyond Blue: 1300 224 636
- QLife/Switchboard: 1800 184 527
- Suicide Call Back Service: 1300 659 467
Learn more
ACON Health is Australia’s largest LGBTQ health organisation that provides global leadership in areas of community health, inclusion, and HIV responses for people of diverse sexualities and genders.
Pride in Sport is Australia’s first and only sporting inclusion program specifically designed to assist sporting organisations at all levels with the inclusion of employees, players, volunteers and spectators with diverse genders and sexualities.
The Pride in Sport Index is the first and only benchmarking instrument in Australia specifically designed to assess the inclusion of people with diverse sexualities and genders within Australian sporting organisations.
TransHub is a digital information and resource platform for all trans and gender diverse people, their loved ones, allies and health providers. TransHub offers the information that many trans individuals so desperately needed, but didn’t have access to as we grew up or grew toward our most authentic selves.
The Australian Sports Commission comprises; Sport Australia — responsible for driving the broader sport sector including participation, supporting activities linked to sport and sport industry growth, and the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) — leading our high-performance sport system.
The Australian Human Rights Commission is an independent statutory organisation, established by an act of Federal Parliament. We protect and promote human rights in Australia and internationally.
Play by the Rules provides information, resources, tools and free online training to increase the capacity and capability of administrators, coaches, officials, players, parents and spectators to assist them in preventing and dealing with discrimination, harassment, child safety, inclusion and integrity issues in sport.
Online Shop
Pride in Sport ALLY Lanyards
from $5.95
These Pride in Sport ALLY lanyards are designed to complement your LGBTQ ally inclusion initiatives. The lanyard is 85cm x 2.5cm, and has a breakaway buckle for safety.
Pride Pin
from $3.75 ea
Trans Pride, Non-Binary Pride, Rainbow Pride, Bisexual Pride, Lesbian Pride, and Rainbow Ally Pins all available.
Rainbow Laces
$3.30 ea
Show your support for LGBTQ inclusion on the sporting field, and in the boardroom! Rainbow Laces provide critical funding support to the Pride in Sport program.
Other Resources & Links
- Language / Terminology Guide
- Guidelines for the inclusion of transgender and gender diverse people in sport [PDF]
- LGBTQ Days of Significance
- Inclusion Governance (by sport)
- Trans and gender diverse inclusion in sport (Victoria ) [PDF]
- Pride in Practice (LGBTQ Inclusion Conference)
- Australian Pride in Sport Awards
- VIDEO: Energy of the Self Edit
- VIDEO: Non-Binary ≠ Non-Participation in Sport (Live Panel Discussion)
Other Organisations
Human Rights Organisations
- Australian Human Rights Commission
- ACT Human Rights Commission
- Anti-Discrimination Board of New South Wales
- Anti-Discrimination Commission of Queensland
- Equal Opportunity Commission Western Australia
- Northern Territory Anti-Discrimination Commission
- Office of the Anti-Discrimination Commission (Tasmania)
- South Australia Equal Opportunity Commission
- Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission
Media
For media enquiries, please contact
David Alexander, Media and Communications | 0428 477 042 | dalexander@acon.org.au
ACON encourages the use of the Australian Press Council’s Advisory Guideline for Reporting on persons with diverse sexual orientation, gender identity and sex characteristics.
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