Think Tank 3: How do we keep inclusion of LGBTQ+ people on the agenda?

Think Tank 3 of the Post COVID-19 Community Sports Forums will ask the question - how do we keep the inclusion of LGBTQ+ people on the agenda? The COVID-19 crises has bought challenges and opportunities for community sport. On the one hand there is the possibility that much of the progress made in recent times with respect to the inclusion of LGBTQ+ people could be lost in the scramble to get community sport going again, particularly with limited resources. On the other hand, community sport now has an opportunity to reimagine inclusion, to finally find its place for everyone in the community.

In this Think Tank we will look at what we know about the inclusion of LGBTQ+ people in sport, why it is important to keep inclusion on the agenda and what's the role of community sport in ensuring it happens in these challenging times. 

We'll hear from Beau Newell who is the National Program Manager for Pride in Sport Australia, an initiative developed by ACON Health (the largest LGBTQ Health Organisation in Australia), Australian Sports Commission and the Australian Human Rights Commission to assist sporting organisations at all levels with the inclusion of participants, volunteers, staff and spectators with diverse sexualities and genders. 

And Christine Grainger - Christine is the recently appointed CEO of Proud 2 Play. She has a wealth of experience and knowledge of working in the sporting, not for profit, and government sectors across different continents. 

And Dr Ryan Storr - Ryan is a Lecturer and Academic Course Advisor for the Sport Development degree at Western Sydney University. He completed his PhD at Victoria University, Melbourne, and his thesis explored how volunteers in community sports clubs engaged with diversity work. He is also the co-founder and vice president of Proud 2 Play, a LGBTI+ sport charity.