Celebrating Pride month and inclusivity

As June is Pride month, we reflect on how BSAC strives to be a welcoming and inclusive community for everyone.

Sports clubs, groups and organisations thrive when they engage a diverse range of individuals and ensure that everyone can be their authentic selves when participating or volunteering. To achieve this, more needs to be done to encourage lesbian, gay, bi, trans and queer (LGBTQ+) people to take part in sport and physical activity. 

Discrimination, LGBTQ+ phobia and a lack of awareness of the issues faced by LGBTQ+ people are reportedly still common within sport and physical activity settings. Participating and volunteering within a sports club or group setting can therefore be an intimidating experience and may give rise to feelings of anxiety and fear.

It’s important to ensure that LGBTQ+ people are given as many opportunities and as much support to get active as other people, including those with other protected characteristics.

The Equality Act 2010 gives organisation’s a legal obligation to protect people from discrimination including harassment and victimisation based on sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression as well as other protected characteristics.

Being LGBTQ+ inclusive is not just the right thing to do, it has wider benefits to an organisation and its members including:

• Improving growth and sustainability by bringing in new people and retaining existing people.
• Creating a more welcoming environment for everyone.
• Enabling everyone to give their all to the organisation and be the best they can be.
• Having a culture that is respectful and celebrates diversity.
• Having increased diversity of thought in decision making and governance.
• Being more representative of all aspects of the community.

Let's make scuba diving and snorkelling more inclusive

It is important to recognise that the LGBTQ+ community are not a homogenous group and that individuals will all face different barriers to participating and volunteering in sport and physical activity. What affects one person may not affect another. People’s experiences, gender, age, ethnicity, disposable income, family commitments, disabilities, health and wellbeing and other factors will all continue to play a part in influencing their behaviours, so it is important to take the time to understand people’s individual needs and requirements.

Sport England tells us that ensuring LGBTQ+ people can take part in sport is about building awareness around key areas. For example, what language is and isn’t acceptable for people in clubs and sport to use.

Advice and support

The website section Pride in scuba diving has practical suggestions for all members; to raise awareness and build understanding. It covers:

• What does LGBTQ+ mean?
• Supporting LGBTQ+ people in scuba diving and snorkelling
• Becoming a more inclusive club
• LGBTQ+ resources and support