AIS Partner With Pride In Sport
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ow a principal partner member of Pride in Sport, the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) show their commitment to creating a safe environment for members of the LGBTIQ+ community.
Pride in Sport is an inclusion program designed to aid sporting organisations with inclusion of employees, players, volunteers and spectators of diverse genders and sexualities.
Its founding members include sporting organisations such as; the Australian Sports Commission, Football Federation Australia, Rugby Australia and Water Polo Australia.
Noting the prominent role the AIS plays in Australia’s sporting landscape, AIS CEO, Peter Conde, said it was important to join other national sporting organisations in championing LGBTIQ+ inclusion.
“LGBTIQ+ athletes, coaches support staff and volunteers have the right to feel like they belong and are safe to participate in Australian sport,” Conde said.
“This membership will inform how the AIS can create inclusive spaces by reducing homophobia, stigma and discrimination.
“We know that when coaches, athletes, support staff and volunteers can come to work as their full selves, they’ll perform better and enjoy more fulfilled lives.
“Together we’re ensuring that sport is for everyone,” he said.
In celebration of Pride Month and in support of the partnership, Australian water polo captain Rowie Webster and gymnast Heath Thorpe welcomed the support for the LGBTIQ+ community.
“I’m really proud of the AIS to have the Pride in Sort membership because it promotes that we are moving in the right direction,” Webster said.
“LGBTIQ+ inclusion in sport is really important to be because currently 75% of LGBTIQ+ women are still in the closet in the world of sport.
“It needs to be recognised that there is more work to do in making sure that there is a safe environment for athletes in the LGBTIQ+ community to reduce stigma, work collectively together as a team and have role models to look up to,” she said.
Thorpe added; “It means so much to me as a queer athlete that the AIS has partnered with Pride in Sport.”
“Significant cultural change always needs to come from the top and this is both an impressive and important first step in increasing inclusiveness and diversity within Australian sport.
“Athletes and sporting organisations are incredible role models to so many people around Australia and I’d love to see sporting organisations to continue to use that status and to push the idea that you don’t have to be in the community to support the community,” he said.
