AusLeisure

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 2023 Australian Pride in Sport Awards held yesterday in Melbourne.

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.

Acknowledging input to the program, Beau Newell, Pride in Sport’s National Program Manager, stated “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.”

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.

The awards showcase the results of the Pride in Sport Index (PSI) - a national benchmarking instrument used to access LGBTQ inclusion within Australian sport.

PSI co-founder, Andrew Purchas noted “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.”

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.

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.”

2023 Pride in Sport Awards Recipients
Sporting Organisation of the Year
Hockey ACT

Community Sporting Organisation of the Year
Kingston City Rollers

Most Improved Sporting Organisations
Touch Football Australia
Kingston City Rollers

LGBTQ Ally Award
Kerry Tavrou, Tennis Australia

Executive Leader Award
Mick Garnett, Wheelchair Sports NSW/ACT
LGBTQ Inclusive Coach Award
Sam Dengate, T Generation

LGBTQ Out Role Model Award
Sharni Williams, Rugby Australia

LGBTQ Positive Media Award
‘Melbourne United supports and celebrates Isaac Humphries courageous decision’, National Basketball League (NBL)

LGBTQ Inclusion Initiative Award
SLSA Pride Surf Rescue Board, Surf Life Saving Australia

Gold Sporting Organisations
Hockey ACT
Macquarie University Sport
Netball Victoria
Tennis Australia
Touch Football Australia

Gold Community Sporting Organisation
Kingston City Rollers

Silver Sporting Organisations
Hockey Australia
Hockey QLD
Hockey Victoria
Lacrosse Victoria
Tennis NSW
UWA Sport

Bronze Sporting Organisations
ANU Sport
Australian Football League (AFL)
Hockey WA
National Rugby League (NRL)
RMIT University Sport

Images: Winners of the 2023 Australian Pride in Sport Awards (top) and Emilie Hall and Rob Sheekey of Hockey ACT after receiving the Sporting Organisation of the Year award (below). Credti: PSI.

Related Articles

9th March 2023 - Shared values of diversity and inclusion underpin partnership between Netball Australia and Flight Centre

23rd February 2023 - Les Mills spotlights experiences of LGBTQIA+ fitness instructors to coincide with Sydney Worldpride 2023

21st February 2023 - Victorian aquatics and recreation industry collaboration delivers successful inaugural diversity and inclusion in leisure forum

17th February 2023 - Football Australia continues its inclusive approach to sport by partnering with WorldPride 2023

17th February 2023 - Australian Diamonds player among AIS ambassadors helping to drive LGBTIQ+ inclusion in sport 

19th September 2022 - Sport fans want their teams to lead on environment, sustainability and inclusion issues

6th April 2022 - City of Sydney to prioritise and protect Oxford Street’s LGBTIQA+ identity

29th March 2022 - Wellington City Council offers regular ‘Out in the Pool’ sessions for LGBTQI+ community

6th March 2022 - Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Parade unites LGBTQIA+ communities

5th March 2022 - 12 National Sporting Organisations partner with Pride in Sport to launch new collective

2nd February 2022 - Australian athletes champion LGBTIQ+ pride in sport

28th October 2021 - Pride in Sport issues statement on Adelaide United FC Player Josh Cavallo

1st October 2020 - Athletes, Sporting Clubs and Organisations recognised for LGBTQ inclusion

7th August 2020 - New VicHealth study finds LGBTI+ community still experiencing social barriers to sport participation

26th June 2020 - VicHealth continues to promote LGBTI+ inclusion in community sport

25th June 2020 - UniSport commits to inclusion with membership of Pride in Sport

4th March 2020 - Finalists announced for National LGBTQ sporting inclusion awards

2nd March 2020 - Pride in Sport program welcomes Surf Life Saving Australia

22nd November 2019 - Pride in Practice Conference set to be attended by Business, Sport and Health Leaders

28th October 2019 - Australian LGBTIQ+ groups receive funding for sport and arts programs

4th October 2019 - YMCA Victoria launches regular inclusive LGBTIQ+ strength training classes

17th September 2019 - Rugby Australia forms alliance to increase participation in the LGBTIQ community

14th June 2019 - Sporting clubs and organisations recognised for LGBTQ inclusion

12th April 2019 - Pride in Sport welcomes NSW Rugby Union and Rugby Australia action against Israel Folau

9th April 2019 - Awards return to celebrate LGBTQ inclusion in Australian sport

---

Support our industry news service
We hope that you value the news that we publish so while you're here can we ask for your support?

As an independent publisher, we need reader support for our industry news gathering so ask that - if you don't already do so - you back us by subscribing to the printed Australasian Leisure Management magazine and/or our online news.