Sporting codes sign up for world-first program measuring LGBTI policies - Australia Gay News Network

Six of Australia’s major sports, including all national football bodies, have signed up to a world-first benchmarking framework aimed at evaluating LGBTI diversity and inclusion within their codes. The Pride in Sport Index (PSI) is an independently administered benchmarking system that monitors LGBTI related policies and programs of sporting organisations.

It will be used by Australian Rugby Union, National Rugby League, Australian Football League, Football Federation of Australia, Cricket Australia and Water Polo Australia to regularly measure how they support their LGBTI players, staff, spectators and supporters.

Results from the index will be published every year and awards will be given to high-scoring organisation from 2017.

The PSI has been developed following the release of the Out On The Fields study in 2015, which found only 1 per cent of respondents felt that LGB people were accepted in sporting culture, and almost 80 per cent believed that openly LGB fans would not be safe as spectators.

Pride In Sport Index co-founder Andrew Purchas said the PSI builds on the historic signing of an anti-homophobia pledge by the major codes two years ago.

“Today’s launching of the world’s first Pride in Sport Index continues this important work,” Purchas said.

“The Index will be more than just a signature on a piece paper. It will provide the means for sporting organisations to demonstrate how they’re reducing homophobia and transphobia and making sport more accessible for all.”

The index is an initiative of the Australian Human Rights Commission and the Australian Sports Commission.

AHRC President Gillian Triggs said: “All people have the right to the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health, regardless of their sexual orientation, sex or gender identity”.

Sports chiefs expressed their support for the index and reaffirmed their commitment to making their sports more inclusive.

“By committing to participate in the Pride in Sport Index Australian Rugby will continue to strive for greater inclusion and constant improvement in our policies and behaviours throughout the game,” said ARU CEO Bill Pulver

Football Federation of Australia CEO David Gallop said the index will assist in improving their programs that will change attitudes.

“It is the right of every player, coach, volunteer and fan to feel accepted, on and off the sporting field, regardless of their sexuality,” he said.

AFL CEO Gillon McLachlan said: “We are committed to being a sport that welcomes and supports everyone, and being part of the fight against homophobia”.

The NRL’s General Manager of Community Ellen Beale said the PSI fits the organisation’s “core values of inclusiveness, courage and teamwork” while Cricket Australia’s CEO James Sutherland said the index “further emphasises its commitment to ensure the genuine diversity and inclusiveness” of cricket.

Water Polo Australia CEO Chris Harrison said: “Coming from a team sport I have grown up with acceptance and acknowledgement of differences. It is pleasing as the leader of a sport to now extend that culture nationally and welcome all into our sport and family.”

In addition, to the Pride in Sport Index, a new program – called Pride in Sport – has also been launched to help organisations better support their LGBTI players, staff, spectators and supporters. Pride in Sport provides members with a range of services to help them develop and implement effective LGBTI inclusion practices.

The Pride in Sport program is operated by ACON, and partners with ACON’s Pride in Diversity program which works to address LGBTI related discrimination and exclusion within Australian workplaces.

“Nowhere else in the world, has an LGBTI inclusivity index and support program for sporting organisations and clubs been launched at a national level to tackle homophobia and exclusion in sport,” said Director of ACON’s Pride Inclusion Programs Dawn Hough.

“We think that is something of which that Australians can be very proud.”

Author Reg Domingo