Uned Stat Gay Sports Network |

Contents:

• BENT BENT KRANKS IS A BIKE CLUB CREATED FOR THE GAY AND LBIAN MUNY OF MELBOURNE AND OPEN TO ALL. WHETHER YOU ARE A ONCE A YEAR RIR OR A WEEKEND WARRR WHO LIK TO H THE TRAILS AND AROUND MELBOURNE, WE HAVE A RI FOR YOU.LEARN MORECLIMBG CLIMBGQTS IS ABOUT MUNY. Y WE LOVE THE OUTDOORS AND WE LOVE PULLG ON PLASTIC TOO! BUT AT THE HEART OF WHAT WE AIM TO DO IS HOLD A SPACE FOR ALL HUMANS, REGARDLS OF THEIR GENR, SEXUALY OR INTY TO FEEL FORTABLE, WELE AND SAFE.LEARN QUEER DANCG SPECIALISTS WHO PROVI A SAFE & FUN ENVIRONMENT FOR THE LGBTIQ MUNY & THEIR IENDS TO LEARN AND EXPRS THEMSELV DANCE. LOOKG FOR SOME SOCIAL DANCG FUN AND EXERCISE? BEGNERS & INTERMEDIATE CLASS EVERY SATURDAY. LEARN MOREGIPPSLAND RANG ROLLER DERBYROLLER GIPPSLAND RANG ROLLER DERBY, FORMERLY LATROBE CY ROLLER DERBY, ARE A NOT FOR PROF, MIXED GENR ROLLER DERBY CLUB GIPPSLAND VICTORIA. AFFILIATED WH SKATE VICTORIA, WE ARE BASED AT OUR DITED GRRD SHED FACILY AT THE TRARALGON SHOWGROUNDS.LEARN MOREMELBOURNE THE MELBOURNE ARGONTS QUEER ROWG CLUB WAS FORMED 2001 AND HELD OUR FIRST ANNUAL GENERAL MEETG ON A TRA OM MELBOURNE TO GEELONG. LEARN MOREMELBOURNE THE MELBOURNE CHARGERS WERE FORMED 2009, WH THE PURPOSE OF CREATG A GBY TEAM WHERE NEW PLAYERS ULD LEARN THE GAME AN ACCEPTG ENVIRONMENT, AND RETURNG PLAYERS WHO HAD LEFT THE SPORT BEE OF THEIR SEXUALY ULD PLAY OPENLY. LEARN MOREMELBOURNE DRAGONSMARTIAL MELBOURNE DRAGONS MARTIAL ARTS IS MELBOURNE’S FIRST CLIVE LGBT+ MARTIAL ARTS CLUB. WE OFFER MARTIAL ARTS AND SELF FENCE CLASS OUR QUEER IENDLY COLLGWOOD DOJO. WE N OUR KARATE CLASS AND MUAY THAI/KICK BOXG ONCE A WEEK.LEARN MOREMELBOURNE WE ARE AN CLIVE NNG AND WALKG CLUB, OPEN TO ANYONE REGARDLS OF ABILY, AGE, SEXUAL ORIENTATN OR GENR INTY. WE ARE PART OF THE INTERNATNAL FRONTNNERS, A WORK OF LIKE-MD LGBT+ NNG AND WALKG CLUBS ACROSS THE GLOBE.LEARN MOREMELBOURNE ESTABLISHED 2001 BY A GROUP OF SWIMMERS TERTED ATTENDG THE 2002 GAY GAM. SCE THEN WE HAVE GROWN TO ONE OF MELBOURNE’S LARGT MASTERS SWIMMG CLUBS, PETG LOL, NATNAL AND TERNATNAL EVENTS.LEARN MOREMELBOURNE MELBOURNE ROVERS WAS FORMED JUNE 2008, AS A LGBTIQ SOCCER CLUB TO FOSTER THE PLAYG OF SOCCER SO AS TO ACHIEVE THE GENERAL AIMS OF PHYSIL AND SOCIAL FNS, HEALTH AND RECREATN.LEARN MOREMELBOURNE WE'RE A IENDLY GAY BADMTON CLUB, ALWAYS LOOKG FOR NEW PLAYERS SO IF YOU'D LIKE TO E ALONG AND PLAY A B OF BADMTON YOU'D BE VERY WELE. WE HAVE A GOOD MIX OF ABILI AND THERE IS NO EXPECTATN OF ABILY.LEARN MOREMELBOURNE THE MELBOURNE SPECTR GAY AND LBIAN BASKETBALL CLUB PROVIS ALL MEMBERS OF THE MUNY, REGARDLS OF AGE, SKILL LEVEL OR SEXUAL ORIENTATN, WH A SUPPORTIVE AND SOCIALLY CLIVE ENVIRONMENT TO PARTICIPATE BASKETBALLLEARN MOREMELBOURNE SCE 1985 THE MELBOURNE SPIKERS VOLLEYBALL CLUB HAS PROVID A IENDLY AND SUPPORTIVE ENVIRONMENT FOR GAY, LBIAN, BISEXUAL AND TRANSGENR PEOPLE MELBOURNE. WE'RE OPEN TO ANYONE REGARDLS OF THEIR SEXUAL ORIENTATN OR GENR INTY.LEARN MOREMELBOURNE SURGEWATER MELBOURNE SURGE WATER POLO CLUB IS FOR ALL THOSE TERTED TRAG AND PLAYG WATER POLO WH AN CLIVE, FUN LOVG AND ACTIVE TEAM. WE ARE VICTORIA'S ONLY GAY AND LBIAN WATER POLO CLUB. LEARN MOREMELBOURNE UNIVERSY WOMEN'S FOOTBALL CLUB
• THE ATRALIAN ATHLET CHAMPNG LGBTIQ+ PRI SPORTFOURTEEN ATHLET ACROSS 10 SPORTS ARE JOG TOGETHER AS AMBASSADORS FOR THE ATRALIAN INSTUTE OF SPORT’S (AIS) GURAL THRIVE WH PRI PROGRAM, LNCHED ON TUDAY.THREE-TIME OLYMPIC WATER POLO PLAYER ROWIE WEBSTER. SOURCE: AAPATRALIAN ARTISTIC GYMNAST HEATH THORPE SAYS GROWG TO HIS INTY MEANT CREATG A PATHWAY THAT WASN’T “ALREADY THERE”. THORPE, 21, HAS BEEN VOLVED GYMNASTICS FOR 14 YEARS, REPRENTG ATRALIA AT WORLD CUPS AND WORLD CHAMPNSHIPS. HE SAYS HE IS ONE OF FEW OPENLY GAY GYMNASTS, BOTH ATRALIA AND TERNATNALLY.COMG TO TERMS WH HIS SEXUALY MEANT, AT FIRST, FACG A STEREOTYPE WH THE SPORT. “IT HAS BEEN AN TERTG PATHWAY … I KNOW WHEN I WAS GROWG UP THAT I WAS MET WH A LOT OF MENTS ABOUT GYMNASTICS BEG FOR GIRLS, OR BEG FOR GAY PEOPLE,” THORPE TOLD SBS NEWS. “FOR ME TO REALISE MY INTY WAS A B OF STGGLE, BEE I HAD ALMOST NOT WANTED TO PERPETUATE A STEREOTYPE THAT I HAD BEEN TOLD MY WHOLE LIFE. SO THAT WAS AN TERNAL STGGLE SELF.“AND EVEN SO NOW, I AM STILL ONE OF THE ONLY OPENLY GAY GYMANASTS ON AN TERNATNAL LEVEL.”READ MOREHOW LGBTQI+ AFL FANS HAVE BAND TOGETHER TO CREATE A WORK OF PRI GROUPSWH THE SPORTG WORLD, HE SAID HAS BEEN PLITED "CREATG A PATHWAY THAT ISN'T ALREADY THERE". “IT HAS BEEN QUE TERTG EXPLORG THAT AND UNRSTANDG THAT - PECIALLY AT A YOUNG AGE,” HE SAID."I ME OUT TO THE MEDIA WHEN I WAS 18 WHOUT EVEN NECSARILY REALISG THE ENORMY OF . I THK ’S JT THAT A LOT OF FIRSTS ARE HARD TO NAVIGATE.”HEATH THORPE PICTURED ANTWERP, BELGIUM NOVEMBER LAST YEAR. SOURCE: SUPPLIEDTHORPE IS NOW AMONG 14 ATHLET G TOGETHER AS AMBASSADORS FOR THE ATRALIAN INSTUTE OF SPORT’S (AIS) GURAL THRIVE WH PRI PROGRAM. HE SS ALONGSI GYMNAST DOMIC CLARKE, WHO IS ALSO OPENLY GAY. LNCHED ON TUDAY, NSULTATN WH NATNAL NOT-FOR-PROF SPORTG CLN PROGRAM PRI SPORT AND PROUD 2 PLAY, THE PROGRAM AIMS TO PROVI SAFE AND CLIVE SPORTG ENVIRONMENTS FOR ALL ATHLET. MATTI CLEMENTS, AIS’ ACTG CHIEF EXECUTIVE, SAID THE PROGRAM WILL EQUIP AMBASSADORS WH THE KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE TO SPEAK WH LOL SPORTG ENVIRONMENTS ON LGBTIQ+ AWARENS, ACTIVE ALLYSHIP AND CLIVY. “THE PROGRAM IS ABOUT RAISG AWARENS AROUND THE LGBTIQ+ POPULATN, AND SPORT BEG A GREAT VEHICLE TO HAVE THOSE NVERSATNS WHICH, TO BE ANK, WE HAVEN’T BEEN ABLE TO HAVE AT ALL TIM OVER THE LAST UPLE OF YEARS,” MS CLEMENTS SAID. “I THK, HISTORILLY, SOME OF THE NVERSATNS HAVEN'T BEEN HAD POTENTIALLY BEE PEOPLE HAVEN'T SEEN OTHERS LIKE THEM. AND WE KNOW THAT WHEN PEOPLE N RELATE TO OTHERS, THEY ARE MORE LIKELY TO HAVE A NVERSATN ABOUT WHO THEY ARE. “SO, A PROGRAM SUCH AS THRIVE PRI CREAT THAT NVERSATN.”ROWIE WEBSTER, PICTURED DURG THE 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPIC GAM TOKYO, IS ALSO A PROGRAM AMBASSADOR. SOURCE: SPORTSFILE VIA GETTY IMAGPRI SPORT INX -FOUNR ANDREW PURCHAS SAID IS EXTREMELY SUPPORTIVE OF THE PROGRAM AND THE AIS’ LEARSHIP LEVERAGG HIGH-PERFORMANCE ATHLET TO ENGAGE WH SPORTG MUNI. “IT IS EXTREMELY POWERFUL TO HAVE ELE ATHLET AND ACH EMPOWERED  TO TALK TO THEIR PEERS ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF CLN,” HE SAID. “THE THRIVE WH PRI PROGRAM WILL ENURAGE RPECTFUL, TED AND CLIVE MUNITN BETWEEN THE PARTICIPANTS AND ATRALIAN SPORTG MUNI; BUILDG TST, FOSTERG CHANGE TO PROVI A SAFE AND CLIVE PLACE FOR ATHLET TO THRIVE SPORT.”READ MOREWHY THIS ATRALIAN WANTS TO LNCH THE WORLD GAY BOXG CHAMPNSHIPSTHE PROGRAM AMBASSADORS PRISE LGBTIQ+ ATHLET AND ALLI OM ACROSS 10 SPORTS, CLUDG TWO-TIME OLYMPIC DIVER MATTHEW MCHAM, FORMER RUGBY SEVENS PTA SHARNI WILLIAMS AND NON-BARY SHOT-PUTTER MARIA STRONG, WHO MA THEIR PARALYMBIC BATE TOKYO LAST YEAR. ALSO AMONG THEM IS THREE-TIME OLYMPIC WATER POLO PLAYER ROWIE WEBSTER, WHO SAYS HER VOLVEMENT IS ALL ABOUT STARTG NVERSATNS A SAFE SPACE. “I KNEW FOR A LONG TIME THAT I WAS GAY, AND I CERTALY DIDN’T FEEL ALL THAT FORTABLE G OUT - JT THE SPORTG WORLD,” SHE TOLD SBS NEWS. “THERE WEREN’T MANY ROLE MOLS THAT I KNEW OF THAT WERE LIKE ME.”ROWIE WEBSTER IS PICTURED AT THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE ATRALIAN WOMENS WATER POLO TEAM FOR THE TOKYO 2020 OLYMPICS. SOURCE: AAPWH A SUPPORT WORK AROUND HER, WEBSTER SAYS SHE WAS ABLE TO REALISE HER THENTIC SELF AND IS NOW THRIVG. BUT SHE ACKNOWLEDG MANY OTHERS HAVEN’T HAD THE SAME EXPERIENCE. “I THK I'VE BEEN A PRIVILEGED POSN WHERE I HAVE ALWAYS BEEN A SAFE ENVIRONMENT, AND I HAVEN'T HAD DISCRIMATN TOWARDS ME. BUT I CERTALY KNOW OF OTHER ATHLET AND PEOPLE THE GREATER MUNY WHO HAVE,” SHE SAID. “SO I THK THAT'S WHAT OUR ROLE IS NOW; TO TRY TO OVERE THOSE BARRIERS AND THOSE CHALLENG, AND MAKE MORE OF AN ACCEPTED THG [NVERSATN] TO HAVE.“WE WANT TO START HEALTHY NVERSATNS, HAVE A REALLY SUPPORTIVE AND SAFE ENVIRONMENT TO HAVE THOSE NVERSATNS, AND ALSO TO TE SPORTG ANISATNS TO BETTER SUPPORT THEIR ATHLET. AND ALSO, I THK THAT WILL HAVE A REAL RIPPLE EFFECT TO THE MUNY."READ MORE'FOOTBALL IS FOR EVERYBODY': WORLD REACTS TO FOOTBALLER JOSH CAVALLO G OUT AS GAYTHORPE AGRE THAT TN IS THE FIRST STEP TOWARDS PROGRS AND EQUALY FOR QUEER ATHLET. “I THK THAT OFTEN, A LOT OF IGNORANCE OR MISRMATN JT OM MISUNRSTANDG. SO, PEOPLE DON’T FEEL FORTABLE NECSARILY SUPPORTG OR ENGAGG WH A SPACE THEY DON’T UNRSTAND,” HE SAID. “SO ’S REALLY IMPORTANT AND CCIAL TO TE OM A YOUNG AGE, AND TO TE OM THE TOP AS WELL.” ULTIMATELY, HE HOP TO ENURAGE YOUNG QUEER ATHLET TO “NOT WALK AWAY” OM THEIR SPORT. "SPORT IS A SPACE FOR EVERYONE, AND TO ME, 'S A MEANS FOR MOVEMENT AND HEALTH AND MUNY, AND NO ONE SHOULD EVER BE NIED THAT," HE SAID.“I JT HOPE THAT BY PUTTG THIS PROGRAM OUT THERE, THAT YOUNG QUEER KIDS N E TO THE SPORT, AND ’S A SPACE FOR THEM [WHERE] THEY FEEL WELE AND THEY N PLAY THE SPORT THAT THEY LOVE. IT’S AS SIMPLE AS THAT.” LGBTIQ+ ATRALIANS SEEKG SUPPORT N NTACT QLIFE ON 1800 184 527 OR VIS .  ALSO HAS A LIST OF SUPPORT SERVIC.SHARE6 M READPUBLISHED 1 FEBARY 2022 6:40AMUPDATED 1 FEBARY 2022 7:23AMBY EMMA BRANTISANOSOURCE: SBS NEWSSHARE THIS WH FAY AND IENDSCOPY LKSHAREREMEND FOR YOU
• SPORTMELBOURNE UNED PLAYER ISAAC HUMPHRI TELLS TEAMMAT HE IS GAY EMOTNAL SPEECH
• GAY GROUPS MELBOURNE
• A GAY GIRL’S GUI TO THE 2023 WOMEN’S WORLD CUP

BENT BENT KRANKS IS A BIKE CLUB CREATED FOR THE GAY AND LBIAN MUNY OF MELBOURNE AND OPEN TO ALL. WHETHER YOU ARE A ONCE A YEAR RIR OR A WEEKEND WARRR WHO LIK TO H THE TRAILS AND AROUND MELBOURNE, WE HAVE A RI FOR YOU.LEARN MORECLIMBG CLIMBGQTS IS ABOUT MUNY. Y WE LOVE THE OUTDOORS AND WE LOVE PULLG ON PLASTIC TOO! BUT AT THE HEART OF WHAT WE AIM TO DO IS HOLD A SPACE FOR ALL HUMANS, REGARDLS OF THEIR GENR, SEXUALY OR INTY TO FEEL FORTABLE, WELE AND SAFE.LEARN QUEER DANCG SPECIALISTS WHO PROVI A SAFE & FUN ENVIRONMENT FOR THE LGBTIQ MUNY & THEIR IENDS TO LEARN AND EXPRS THEMSELV DANCE. LOOKG FOR SOME SOCIAL DANCG FUN AND EXERCISE? BEGNERS & INTERMEDIATE CLASS EVERY SATURDAY. LEARN MOREGIPPSLAND RANG ROLLER DERBYROLLER GIPPSLAND RANG ROLLER DERBY, FORMERLY LATROBE CY ROLLER DERBY, ARE A NOT FOR PROF, MIXED GENR ROLLER DERBY CLUB GIPPSLAND VICTORIA. AFFILIATED WH SKATE VICTORIA, WE ARE BASED AT OUR DITED GRRD SHED FACILY AT THE TRARALGON SHOWGROUNDS.LEARN MOREMELBOURNE THE MELBOURNE ARGONTS QUEER ROWG CLUB WAS FORMED 2001 AND HELD OUR FIRST ANNUAL GENERAL MEETG ON A TRA OM MELBOURNE TO GEELONG. LEARN MOREMELBOURNE THE MELBOURNE CHARGERS WERE FORMED 2009, WH THE PURPOSE OF CREATG A GBY TEAM WHERE NEW PLAYERS ULD LEARN THE GAME AN ACCEPTG ENVIRONMENT, AND RETURNG PLAYERS WHO HAD LEFT THE SPORT BEE OF THEIR SEXUALY ULD PLAY OPENLY. LEARN MOREMELBOURNE DRAGONSMARTIAL MELBOURNE DRAGONS MARTIAL ARTS IS MELBOURNE’S FIRST CLIVE LGBT+ MARTIAL ARTS CLUB. WE OFFER MARTIAL ARTS AND SELF FENCE CLASS OUR QUEER IENDLY COLLGWOOD DOJO. WE N OUR KARATE CLASS AND MUAY THAI/KICK BOXG ONCE A WEEK.LEARN MOREMELBOURNE WE ARE AN CLIVE NNG AND WALKG CLUB, OPEN TO ANYONE REGARDLS OF ABILY, AGE, SEXUAL ORIENTATN OR GENR INTY. WE ARE PART OF THE INTERNATNAL FRONTNNERS, A WORK OF LIKE-MD LGBT+ NNG AND WALKG CLUBS ACROSS THE GLOBE.LEARN MOREMELBOURNE ESTABLISHED 2001 BY A GROUP OF SWIMMERS TERTED ATTENDG THE 2002 GAY GAM. SCE THEN WE HAVE GROWN TO ONE OF MELBOURNE’S LARGT MASTERS SWIMMG CLUBS, PETG LOL, NATNAL AND TERNATNAL EVENTS.LEARN MOREMELBOURNE MELBOURNE ROVERS WAS FORMED JUNE 2008, AS A LGBTIQ SOCCER CLUB TO FOSTER THE PLAYG OF SOCCER SO AS TO ACHIEVE THE GENERAL AIMS OF PHYSIL AND SOCIAL FNS, HEALTH AND RECREATN.LEARN MOREMELBOURNE WE'RE A IENDLY GAY BADMTON CLUB, ALWAYS LOOKG FOR NEW PLAYERS SO IF YOU'D LIKE TO E ALONG AND PLAY A B OF BADMTON YOU'D BE VERY WELE. WE HAVE A GOOD MIX OF ABILI AND THERE IS NO EXPECTATN OF ABILY.LEARN MOREMELBOURNE THE MELBOURNE SPECTR GAY AND LBIAN BASKETBALL CLUB PROVIS ALL MEMBERS OF THE MUNY, REGARDLS OF AGE, SKILL LEVEL OR SEXUAL ORIENTATN, WH A SUPPORTIVE AND SOCIALLY CLIVE ENVIRONMENT TO PARTICIPATE BASKETBALLLEARN MOREMELBOURNE SCE 1985 THE MELBOURNE SPIKERS VOLLEYBALL CLUB HAS PROVID A IENDLY AND SUPPORTIVE ENVIRONMENT FOR GAY, LBIAN, BISEXUAL AND TRANSGENR PEOPLE MELBOURNE. WE'RE OPEN TO ANYONE REGARDLS OF THEIR SEXUAL ORIENTATN OR GENR INTY.LEARN MOREMELBOURNE SURGEWATER MELBOURNE SURGE WATER POLO CLUB IS FOR ALL THOSE TERTED TRAG AND PLAYG WATER POLO WH AN CLIVE, FUN LOVG AND ACTIVE TEAM. WE ARE VICTORIA'S ONLY GAY AND LBIAN WATER POLO CLUB. LEARN MOREMELBOURNE UNIVERSY WOMEN'S FOOTBALL CLUB

We'll be ntact soonBent KranksCyclgVICBent Kranks is a bike club created for the gay and lbian muny of Melbourne and open to all. Melbourne GlamourheadsSwimmgVICEstablished 2001 by a group of swimmers terted attendg the 2002 Gay Gam.

THE ATRALIAN ATHLET CHAMPNG LGBTIQ+ PRI SPORTFOURTEEN ATHLET ACROSS 10 SPORTS ARE JOG TOGETHER AS AMBASSADORS FOR THE ATRALIAN INSTUTE OF SPORT’S (AIS) GURAL THRIVE WH PRI PROGRAM, LNCHED ON TUDAY.THREE-TIME OLYMPIC WATER POLO PLAYER ROWIE WEBSTER. SOURCE: AAPATRALIAN ARTISTIC GYMNAST HEATH THORPE SAYS GROWG TO HIS INTY MEANT CREATG A PATHWAY THAT WASN’T “ALREADY THERE”. THORPE, 21, HAS BEEN VOLVED GYMNASTICS FOR 14 YEARS, REPRENTG ATRALIA AT WORLD CUPS AND WORLD CHAMPNSHIPS. HE SAYS HE IS ONE OF FEW OPENLY GAY GYMNASTS, BOTH ATRALIA AND TERNATNALLY.COMG TO TERMS WH HIS SEXUALY MEANT, AT FIRST, FACG A STEREOTYPE WH THE SPORT. “IT HAS BEEN AN TERTG PATHWAY … I KNOW WHEN I WAS GROWG UP THAT I WAS MET WH A LOT OF MENTS ABOUT GYMNASTICS BEG FOR GIRLS, OR BEG FOR GAY PEOPLE,” THORPE TOLD SBS NEWS. “FOR ME TO REALISE MY INTY WAS A B OF STGGLE, BEE I HAD ALMOST NOT WANTED TO PERPETUATE A STEREOTYPE THAT I HAD BEEN TOLD MY WHOLE LIFE. SO THAT WAS AN TERNAL STGGLE SELF.“AND EVEN SO NOW, I AM STILL ONE OF THE ONLY OPENLY GAY GYMANASTS ON AN TERNATNAL LEVEL.”READ MOREHOW LGBTQI+ AFL FANS HAVE BAND TOGETHER TO CREATE A WORK OF PRI GROUPSWH THE SPORTG WORLD, HE SAID HAS BEEN PLITED "CREATG A PATHWAY THAT ISN'T ALREADY THERE". “IT HAS BEEN QUE TERTG EXPLORG THAT AND UNRSTANDG THAT - PECIALLY AT A YOUNG AGE,” HE SAID."I ME OUT TO THE MEDIA WHEN I WAS 18 WHOUT EVEN NECSARILY REALISG THE ENORMY OF . I THK ’S JT THAT A LOT OF FIRSTS ARE HARD TO NAVIGATE.”HEATH THORPE PICTURED ANTWERP, BELGIUM NOVEMBER LAST YEAR. SOURCE: SUPPLIEDTHORPE IS NOW AMONG 14 ATHLET G TOGETHER AS AMBASSADORS FOR THE ATRALIAN INSTUTE OF SPORT’S (AIS) GURAL THRIVE WH PRI PROGRAM. HE SS ALONGSI GYMNAST DOMIC CLARKE, WHO IS ALSO OPENLY GAY. LNCHED ON TUDAY, NSULTATN WH NATNAL NOT-FOR-PROF SPORTG CLN PROGRAM PRI SPORT AND PROUD 2 PLAY, THE PROGRAM AIMS TO PROVI SAFE AND CLIVE SPORTG ENVIRONMENTS FOR ALL ATHLET. MATTI CLEMENTS, AIS’ ACTG CHIEF EXECUTIVE, SAID THE PROGRAM WILL EQUIP AMBASSADORS WH THE KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE TO SPEAK WH LOL SPORTG ENVIRONMENTS ON LGBTIQ+ AWARENS, ACTIVE ALLYSHIP AND CLIVY. “THE PROGRAM IS ABOUT RAISG AWARENS AROUND THE LGBTIQ+ POPULATN, AND SPORT BEG A GREAT VEHICLE TO HAVE THOSE NVERSATNS WHICH, TO BE ANK, WE HAVEN’T BEEN ABLE TO HAVE AT ALL TIM OVER THE LAST UPLE OF YEARS,” MS CLEMENTS SAID. “I THK, HISTORILLY, SOME OF THE NVERSATNS HAVEN'T BEEN HAD POTENTIALLY BEE PEOPLE HAVEN'T SEEN OTHERS LIKE THEM. AND WE KNOW THAT WHEN PEOPLE N RELATE TO OTHERS, THEY ARE MORE LIKELY TO HAVE A NVERSATN ABOUT WHO THEY ARE. “SO, A PROGRAM SUCH AS THRIVE PRI CREAT THAT NVERSATN.”ROWIE WEBSTER, PICTURED DURG THE 2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPIC GAM TOKYO, IS ALSO A PROGRAM AMBASSADOR. SOURCE: SPORTSFILE VIA GETTY IMAGPRI SPORT INX -FOUNR ANDREW PURCHAS SAID IS EXTREMELY SUPPORTIVE OF THE PROGRAM AND THE AIS’ LEARSHIP LEVERAGG HIGH-PERFORMANCE ATHLET TO ENGAGE WH SPORTG MUNI. “IT IS EXTREMELY POWERFUL TO HAVE ELE ATHLET AND ACH EMPOWERED  TO TALK TO THEIR PEERS ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF CLN,” HE SAID. “THE THRIVE WH PRI PROGRAM WILL ENURAGE RPECTFUL, TED AND CLIVE MUNITN BETWEEN THE PARTICIPANTS AND ATRALIAN SPORTG MUNI; BUILDG TST, FOSTERG CHANGE TO PROVI A SAFE AND CLIVE PLACE FOR ATHLET TO THRIVE SPORT.”READ MOREWHY THIS ATRALIAN WANTS TO LNCH THE WORLD GAY BOXG CHAMPNSHIPSTHE PROGRAM AMBASSADORS PRISE LGBTIQ+ ATHLET AND ALLI OM ACROSS 10 SPORTS, CLUDG TWO-TIME OLYMPIC DIVER MATTHEW MCHAM, FORMER RUGBY SEVENS PTA SHARNI WILLIAMS AND NON-BARY SHOT-PUTTER MARIA STRONG, WHO MA THEIR PARALYMBIC BATE TOKYO LAST YEAR. ALSO AMONG THEM IS THREE-TIME OLYMPIC WATER POLO PLAYER ROWIE WEBSTER, WHO SAYS HER VOLVEMENT IS ALL ABOUT STARTG NVERSATNS A SAFE SPACE. “I KNEW FOR A LONG TIME THAT I WAS GAY, AND I CERTALY DIDN’T FEEL ALL THAT FORTABLE G OUT - JT THE SPORTG WORLD,” SHE TOLD SBS NEWS. “THERE WEREN’T MANY ROLE MOLS THAT I KNEW OF THAT WERE LIKE ME.”ROWIE WEBSTER IS PICTURED AT THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE ATRALIAN WOMENS WATER POLO TEAM FOR THE TOKYO 2020 OLYMPICS. SOURCE: AAPWH A SUPPORT WORK AROUND HER, WEBSTER SAYS SHE WAS ABLE TO REALISE HER THENTIC SELF AND IS NOW THRIVG. BUT SHE ACKNOWLEDG MANY OTHERS HAVEN’T HAD THE SAME EXPERIENCE. “I THK I'VE BEEN A PRIVILEGED POSN WHERE I HAVE ALWAYS BEEN A SAFE ENVIRONMENT, AND I HAVEN'T HAD DISCRIMATN TOWARDS ME. BUT I CERTALY KNOW OF OTHER ATHLET AND PEOPLE THE GREATER MUNY WHO HAVE,” SHE SAID. “SO I THK THAT'S WHAT OUR ROLE IS NOW; TO TRY TO OVERE THOSE BARRIERS AND THOSE CHALLENG, AND MAKE MORE OF AN ACCEPTED THG [NVERSATN] TO HAVE.“WE WANT TO START HEALTHY NVERSATNS, HAVE A REALLY SUPPORTIVE AND SAFE ENVIRONMENT TO HAVE THOSE NVERSATNS, AND ALSO TO TE SPORTG ANISATNS TO BETTER SUPPORT THEIR ATHLET. AND ALSO, I THK THAT WILL HAVE A REAL RIPPLE EFFECT TO THE MUNY."READ MORE'FOOTBALL IS FOR EVERYBODY': WORLD REACTS TO FOOTBALLER JOSH CAVALLO G OUT AS GAYTHORPE AGRE THAT TN IS THE FIRST STEP TOWARDS PROGRS AND EQUALY FOR QUEER ATHLET. “I THK THAT OFTEN, A LOT OF IGNORANCE OR MISRMATN JT OM MISUNRSTANDG. SO, PEOPLE DON’T FEEL FORTABLE NECSARILY SUPPORTG OR ENGAGG WH A SPACE THEY DON’T UNRSTAND,” HE SAID. “SO ’S REALLY IMPORTANT AND CCIAL TO TE OM A YOUNG AGE, AND TO TE OM THE TOP AS WELL.” ULTIMATELY, HE HOP TO ENURAGE YOUNG QUEER ATHLET TO “NOT WALK AWAY” OM THEIR SPORT. "SPORT IS A SPACE FOR EVERYONE, AND TO ME, 'S A MEANS FOR MOVEMENT AND HEALTH AND MUNY, AND NO ONE SHOULD EVER BE NIED THAT," HE SAID.“I JT HOPE THAT BY PUTTG THIS PROGRAM OUT THERE, THAT YOUNG QUEER KIDS N E TO THE SPORT, AND ’S A SPACE FOR THEM [WHERE] THEY FEEL WELE AND THEY N PLAY THE SPORT THAT THEY LOVE. IT’S AS SIMPLE AS THAT.” LGBTIQ+ ATRALIANS SEEKG SUPPORT N NTACT QLIFE ON 1800 184 527 OR VIS .  ALSO HAS A LIST OF SUPPORT SERVIC.SHARE6 M READPUBLISHED 1 FEBARY 2022 6:40AMUPDATED 1 FEBARY 2022 7:23AMBY EMMA BRANTISANOSOURCE: SBS NEWSSHARE THIS WH FAY AND IENDSCOPY LKSHAREREMEND FOR YOU

Melbourne SmashersBadmtonVICWe're a iendly gay badmton club, always lookg for new players so if you'd like to e along and play a b of badmton you'd be very wele. Melbourne SpectrBasketballVICThe Melbourne Spectr Gay and Lbian Basketball Club provis all members of the muny, regardls of age, skill level or sexual orientatn, wh a supportive and socially clive environment to participate basketballMelbourne SpikersVolleyballVICSce 1985 the Melbourne Spikers Volleyball Club has provid a iendly and supportive environment for gay, lbian, bisexual and transgenr people Melbourne.

SPORTMELBOURNE UNED PLAYER ISAAC HUMPHRI TELLS TEAMMAT HE IS GAY EMOTNAL SPEECH

We are Victoria's only gay and lbian water polo club.

ShuttletsBadmtonVICShuttlets is a badmton club for queer women and their alli who want to play badmton Ners Bowlg LeagueBowlgVICThe 69ers ten p-bowlg league is a gay & lbian group. WHY IS LGBTIQ+ INCLUSION IMPORTANTThe LGBTIQ+ (Lbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgenr/Transsexual, Intersex and Queer/Qutng) muny make up an timated 11% of Atralia's populatn but rearch shows LGBTIQ+ people have some of the lowt rat of participatn sport, recreatn and physil activy out of any muny society.

GAY GROUPS MELBOURNE

Over 80% of people have eher wnsed or experienced homophobia sport. 87% of gay mal and 75% of lbians are pletely or partially the closet while playg youth sports. PRIDE CUPPri Cup began as a powerful gture of mathip a untry footy club when the Yarra Glen Football Netball Club supported teammate Jason Ball g out as gay 2012.

Their Membership Program is signed to assist Atralian sportg anisatns wh all aspects of LGBTIQ+ cln, work wh members to achieve bt practice and create better health out for LGBTIQ+ players, ach, fans and others by creatg clive spac though the rctn of homophobia, stigma and discrimatn. Go to gaybros.

A GAY GIRL’S GUI TO THE 2023 WOMEN’S WORLD CUP

Gay sports teams experienc (p as a begner)?

I've jt signed myself up to the lol gay gby team today, and while I'm still lookg forward to , I know I'm gog to be feelg some anxiety down the le before I get to .