{"id":32047,"date":"2022-11-08T16:48:31","date_gmt":"2022-11-08T16:48:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/accelerate.sport\/?post_type=blog_post&#038;p=32047"},"modified":"2023-12-01T09:31:19","modified_gmt":"2023-12-01T09:31:19","slug":"how-to-engage-the-lgbtq-community-in-your-sport","status":"publish","type":"blog_post","link":"https:\/\/accelerate.sport\/welsh\/blog-post\/how-to-engage-the-lgbtq-community-in-your-sport\/","title":{"rendered":"How do I engage the LGBTQ+ Community in Sport?"},"content":{"rendered":"<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"32047\" class=\"elementor elementor-32047\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<section data-particle_enable=\"false\" data-particle-mobile-disabled=\"false\" class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-6413964c elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"6413964c\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-7ad5f050\" data-id=\"7ad5f050\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3922b107 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"3922b107\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<style>\/*! elementor - v3.6.8 - 27-07-2022 *\/\n.elementor-widget-text-editor.elementor-drop-cap-view-stacked .elementor-drop-cap{background-color:#818a91;color:#fff}.elementor-widget-text-editor.elementor-drop-cap-view-framed .elementor-drop-cap{color:#818a91;border:3px solid;background-color:transparent}.elementor-widget-text-editor:not(.elementor-drop-cap-view-default) .elementor-drop-cap{margin-top:8px}.elementor-widget-text-editor:not(.elementor-drop-cap-view-default) .elementor-drop-cap-letter{width:1em;height:1em}.elementor-widget-text-editor .elementor-drop-cap{float:left;text-align:center;line-height:1;font-size:50px}.elementor-widget-text-editor .elementor-drop-cap-letter{display:inline-block}<\/style>\t\t\t\t<h1>Discover how to engage the LGBTQ+community in your sport<\/h1>\n<h1><img decoding=\"async\" style=\"font-size: 16px;\" src=\"https:\/\/accelerate.sport\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/Blog-images.png\" alt=\"LGBTQ inclusion in motorsport\" width=\"1200\" height=\"630\"><\/h1>\n<h2><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Take Pride in LGBTQ+ Inclusivity<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:2,&quot;335551620&quot;:2,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Taking pride in LGBTQ+ inclusivity means actively avoiding being pigeon-holed into clearcut, restrictive sexualities, genders and relationship types is of increasing importance to people, young and old. Ladies, gents and every beautiful gender in between, we are in a time where organisations who don\u2019t give members the space to identify from and embody a range of identity types are seen as not only out of touch, but lacking in respect and even verging on bullying. <\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">It\u2019s just not good enough to say \u2018I don\u2019t get it\u2019 or \u2018Things were different in my day\u2019. As with all areas of diversity, inclusion, equity and standing up to prejudicial behaviour. It\u2019s never been ok to invalidate marginalised communities and it most definitely isn\u2019t acceptable now. We know better. But do you know how this looks&nbsp;<\/span><i><span data-contrast=\"auto\">in practice<\/span><\/i><span data-contrast=\"auto\">&nbsp;in your sports club or organisation?<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Teams and clubs are the perfect place to help people feel a sense of belonging, purpose and pride. Being forced to leave our unique identities at the door is beyond offensive. Sport is a community, and absolutely no-one should feel left out.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/accelerate.sport\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/Blog-images-1.png\" alt=\"lgbtq inclusion marathon runners\" width=\"1200\" height=\"630\"><\/p>\n<h2><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">LGBTQ is not \u2018just a phase\u2019<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:2,&quot;335551620&quot;:2,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">LGBTQ+ isn\u2019t just for Pride, it\u2019s a lived experience 24\/7, and it goes further than skin deep. According to the Annual Population Survey in 2020, it\u2019s estimated that over 3% of the UK population aged 16 and above identifies as lesbian, gay or bisexual. There has been an increase year on year. It\u2019s easy to imagine this figure is even greater here and now in the summer of 2022. According to Stonewall, 1% of the population might identify as trans, including those who identify as non-binary. The reason we don\u2019t know if this is an accurate statistic is because we await the most recent census results, which for the first time ever included a question about trans identity.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Could this 4% be representative of the makeup of your club?<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Despite such large numbers of LGBTQ+ identities in the general population, many people don\u2019t feel like they fully understand all of the definitions, ways of respectfully communicating with the LGBTQ+ community, or how to ensure their clubs and organisations are as inclusive as they can be.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">But in fact, you have a responsibility to make a change in the sport you love, both on and off the pitch. It\u2019s about doing it with integrity, not just to show how \u2018woke\u2019 your organisation\/company is. Lead by example and the rest will follow. Stonewall reports that 20% of sport fans think anti-LGBTQ+ language is harmless if it\u2019s just meant as banter (ICM, 2020). So it\u2019s no wonder that 43% of LGBTQ+ people feel that public sporting events aren\u2019t a welcoming space for them (YouGov for Stonewall, 2017).&nbsp;<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Horrifyingly, 80% of 9,500 people surveyed by Out on the Fields report have witnessed or experienced homophobic behaviour in sport. Finally, to hammer home the message, 81% gay and 74% lesbian young players are partially-completely in the closet, for fear of discrimination. It\u2019s also worth noting that people of LGBTQ or other marginalised communities may be experiencing mental health issues more than others.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/accelerate.sport\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/Blog-images-2.png\" alt=\"LGBTQ inclusion 2 people recovering from exercise\" width=\"1200\" height=\"630\"><\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Defining LGBTQ+, redefining inclusion&nbsp;<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:2,&quot;335551620&quot;:2,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Accelerate Sport has teamed up with Richard Morris, British racing driver and co-founder of Racing Pride (<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) rights charity working in the motorsport industry)<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">, to bring you the latest Accelerate Sport online learning course,&nbsp;<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/accelerate.sport\/welsh\/lgbtq-inclusion-in-your-sport\/\"><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">LGBTQ+ Inclusion in Your Sport<\/span><\/b><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\">.&nbsp;<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/accelerate.sport\/welsh\/lgbtq-inclusion-in-your-sport\/\"><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">LGBTQ+ Inclusion in Your Sport<\/span><\/b><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\">&nbsp;is available to purchase now for&nbsp;<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">a 25% discount \u2013 and you\u2019ll be given all of the background information and case studies you need. As well as how to make your team more inclusive for anyone who identifies as anything but heterosexual and heteronormative. We\u2019re talking about gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, transexual, queer, questioning, pansexual, Two-Spirit, intersex, asexual and more\u2026 even their allies! You\u2019ll come away feeling more confident in tackling conversations about inclusivity, and have a go at&nbsp;<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">building and implementing an LGBTQ+ inclusion strategy<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">&nbsp;that goes beyond hearsay.&nbsp;<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">We want you to come away feeling empowered to identify barriers to inclusion and instigate real change in your sport. It\u2019s vital that you understand how to create a safe space; free from prejudice, bullying, stereotyping and alienation.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/accelerate.sport\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/Blog-images-3.png\" alt=\"LGBTQ inclusion in team sports\" width=\"1200\" height=\"630\"><\/p>\n<h2><span data-contrast=\"auto\"><b>Generating the next generation of&nbsp;<\/b><\/span><b>LGBTQ+<\/b>&nbsp;<b style=\"font-size: 1.5rem;\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">role models<\/span><\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">According to an Out in Sport survey (2019), 33% of LGBTQ+ people who participate and follow sport are not out to anyone in their sporting life. Olympic runner Dame Kelly Holmes was recently stunned by the vastness of support she received after coming out as gay at the age of 52. She said: \u201cThe response has been truly overwhelming. I never ever visualised this positivity and support.\u201d&nbsp;<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">From track to pool, Welsh distance swimming champion, Dan Jervis, has also recently declared how happy he is to be a role model for the LGBTQ community by also announcing his sexuality, and is proud that he can be like those have been for him on BBC\u2019s LGBT Sport Podcast. Diver Tom Daley\u2019s fury over the world governing body for swimming, Fina\u2019s, decision to not allow trans athletes to compete in women\u2019s competitions if they have gone through any part of the process of male puberty.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>We need more role models to make like Stonewall\u2019s \u2018Lace Up, Speak Up\u2019 Rainbow Laces campaign and not stand by in silence any longer while homophobic, biphobic, transphobic and acephobic (anti-asexual) behaviour is still taking place in sport. And all we need to kick it off is honest, clear and supportive conversation.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"none\">Queer athlete and Sports Engagement Manager, Erin Williams,&nbsp;<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">couldn\u2019t have put it better when she said for Stonewall: \u201c<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">We want everyone \u2013 athletes, clubs, individuals, gyms, pools, dance groups, schools, and uni teams \u2013 to take your commitment to inclusion even further, and have conversations about what you can do to make your spaces truly inclusive and welcoming for all LGBTQ+ people.\u201d&nbsp;<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:40,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/accelerate.sport\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/Blog-images-4.png\" alt=\"LGBTQ+ Inclusion in your Sport online course - eLearning\" width=\"1200\" height=\"630\"><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<h2><span data-contrast=\"auto\"><b>How do I engage the LGBTQ+ community in my sport?<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Will you go not the extra mile but actually the very&nbsp;<\/span><i><span data-contrast=\"auto\">first&nbsp;<\/span><\/i><span data-contrast=\"auto\">mile to make your sport as inclusive as you can and be proud of the role models you create from your club? Getting started is easy \u2013 take&nbsp;<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/accelerate.sport\/welsh\/lgbtq-inclusion-in-your-sport\/\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">this short but detailed eLearning course<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\">, and we\u2019ll show you the rest.&nbsp;<em>What follows is exciting stuff indeed.<\/em>&nbsp;Review your policies and codes of conduct. Train your team. Raise visibility of LGBTQ+ in your sport. Celebrate the diversity. Attract and recognise talent; and call out and report abusive behaviour.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">You can learn at your own pace, anywhere, any time and either take the course on its own, or as \u2018blended\u2019 learning including a follow up webinar with the course author to boot. After a quick assessment at the end, a certificate, and CPD points are available upon completion.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong>Don\u2019t forget, like disability, not all sexual preferences and gender identities are visible; even if you think this topic isn\u2019t relevant to your team, you might want to think again.&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p>\n<p aria-level=\"4\"><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/accelerate.sport\/welsh\/lgbtq-inclusion-in-your-sport-single-purchase\/\">Purchase the course here.<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Accelerate Sport and it&#8217;s courses are created by <a href=\"http:\/\/e-coach.co.uk\">eCoach UK<\/a>, leading providers in online education.<\/p>\n<p><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">&nbsp;Written by Alice Gunn<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Discover how to engage the LGBTQ+community in your sport Take Pride in LGBTQ+ Inclusivity&nbsp; Taking pride in LGBTQ+ inclusivity means actively avoiding being pigeon-holed into&hellip;<\/p>","protected":false},"author":74,"featured_media":31292,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"elementor_header_footer","tags":[91,88,94,92,93,87,85,95,84,96,89,86,97,90],"blog-category":[99,83],"class_list":["post-32047","blog_post","type-blog_post","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-bisexual","tag-gay","tag-gay-games","tag-gay-pride","tag-gay-sport","tag-inclusivity","tag-lgbt","tag-lgbt-sport","tag-lgbtq","tag-lgbtq-sport","tag-pride","tag-sport","tag-sports","tag-transgender","blog-category-blog","blog-category-lgbtq"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/accelerate.sport\/welsh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/blog_post\/32047","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/accelerate.sport\/welsh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/blog_post"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/accelerate.sport\/welsh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/blog_post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/accelerate.sport\/welsh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/74"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/accelerate.sport\/welsh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=32047"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/accelerate.sport\/welsh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/blog_post\/32047\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/accelerate.sport\/welsh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/31292"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/accelerate.sport\/welsh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=32047"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/accelerate.sport\/welsh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=32047"},{"taxonomy":"blog-category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/accelerate.sport\/welsh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/blog-category?post=32047"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}