Racing Queensland is proud to announce a new partnership with the Pride in Sport program.
Pride in Sport is a national not-for-profit program that assists sporting organisations and clubs with the inclusion of LGBTIQ+ employees, athletes, coaches, volunteers, officials and spectators.
The organisation is part of ACON Health’s Pride Inclusion Programs and provides a range of services to employers, sporting organisations and service providers with support in all aspects of LGBTIQ+ inclusion.
As the latest Pride in Sport member, RQ is committed to changing practices and working towards a more inclusive, safe, and healthy sporting environment for people with diverse sexualities and genders.
With International Transgender Day of Visibility set to be celebrated on March 31, Racing Minister Grace Grace said that she is proud to see this important partnership come to life.
“It is great to see RQ partner with Pride in Sport, as a commitment to a more inclusive racing industry across Queensland,” Racing Minister Grace Grace said.
“This new partnership will help create more inclusive spaces for LGBTIQ+ participants in the racing industry and is an important step in the ongoing work to reducing homophobia, transphobia, stigma and discrimination in the community.
“In Queensland, we continue to see a diverse and inclusive industry, and this is a significant announcement ahead of International Transgender Day of Visibility tomorrow.”
As a part of its commitment to this partnership, RQ will seek to introduce a number of initiatives that promote inclusion and diversity across the organisation.
Racing Queensland EGM People and Business Services Michelle McConachy said that teaming with Pride in Sport will further promote essential positive messages and examples around LGBTIQ+ inclusion in the industry.
“Being a Pride in Sport member means changing practices and embracing a more inclusive, safe, and healthy sporting environment for people with diverse sexualities and genders,” Ms McConachy said.
“It’s a wonderful program and will assist in our aim to ensure all LGBTIQ+ people are welcome and supported at Racing Queensland.
“We look forward to working with and supporting Pride in Sport, as we continue to further our inclusive practices so that everyone feels welcome in the industry.”
Data from the 2020 PSI National Survey showed that just 44% of LGBTIQ+ people felt mentally well within their sport, while 44% of people, who were not an active LGBTIQ+ Ally, said they were too busy to be engaged in individual activities.
Further, the Out on the Fields study showed that 80% of people had either witnessed or experienced homophobia in sport and 75% believed that an openly gay person would not be safe as a spectator at a sporting event.
Beau Newell, National Program Manager of Pride in Sport Australia, said actual and perceived social exclusion was a leading cause of preventable death in Australia, and creating a healthier and safer sporting culture for LGBTIQ+ people had never been more important.
“By joining Pride in Sport and working with ACON, Racing Queensland underlines their commitment to caring about the health and wellbeing of its participants and stakeholders across Queensland,” Mr Newell said.
“Congratulations to Racing Queensland for leading the way in changing Australia’s sporting culture, to be more inclusive.”
Racing Queensland will join organisations including the AFL, NRL, Football Federation Australia, and Cricket Australia as members of Pride in Sport.
Click here to read more about Pride in Sport.