SLSA joins the ranks of a host ofother Australian sporting codes and associations including AFL, NRL, CricketAustralia and Rugby AU.
ACON Health’s Pride in Sport program is the only sportinginclusion program specifically designed to assist National and State sportingorganisations and clubs with the inclusion of sexuality and gender diverseemployees, participants, coaches, volunteers and spectators.
Adam Weir, CEO of SLSA, is excitedabout the opportunity that Pride in Sport will play when helping promotepositive messages and examples around LGBTQ+ inclusion.
“Surf Life Saving Australia (SLSA) ispleased to have partnered with Pride in Sport. SLSA aims to make beaches acrossthe country a completely inclusive place that everyone feels welcome”, Weirsaid.
“Surf lifesaving is for everyone andsurf lifesavers come from all walks of life and help to create dynamic surflifesaving clubs that are an integral part of local communities.”
“We want all of our members to feelsafe, included and looked after irrespective of age, gender, ethnic background,sexual orientation and economic status.”
The announcement of Surf Life SavingAustralia’s commitment to Pride in Sport aligns with the news that Lifesaverswith Pride will feature as the principal float at the 2020 Sydney Gay andLesbian Mardi Gras parade on February 29.
Lifesavers with Pride have been participatingin the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras parade since 2007 with current orprevious surf lifesavers from clubs and states all over Australia taking part.
For the first time this year, thereare representatives from each state in Australia coming together to perform infront thousands of spectators and special dignitaries including the New South WalesPremier, Sydney City Mayor and global pop sensation Sam Smith.
Surf Life Saving Australia andLifesavers with Pride have been continuously working closely together to create a more inclusive, progressive andwelcoming lifesaving culture for the LGBTQ+ community.
Beau Newell, National Program Managerof Pride in Sport Australia, said actual and perceived social exclusion is aleading cause of preventable death in Australia, and creating a much healthierand safer sporting culture for LGBTQ+ people has never been more important.
“By joining Pride in Sport workingwith ACON, Surf Life Saving Australia is showing the community that they careabout the health and wellbeing of all of their members,” Newell said.
“Congratulations to Surf Life Savingfor leading the way in changing Australia’s sporting and recreation culture, tobe more inclusive.”
