24 October 2024 | Tennis West

Tennis West has become the newest member of the Australian Pride in Sport program, committing to further develop and enhance the inclusion of LGBTQIA+ people in tennis in WA.   

ACON Health’s Pride in Sport program is the only sporting inclusion program specifically designed to assist sporting organisations with the inclusion of employees, athletes, coaches, volunteers, officials and spectators with diverse genders and sexualities. 

Being a Pride in Sport member means reviewing and changing practices and working towards a more inclusive, safe, and healthy sporting environment and work environment for people with diverse sexualities and genders. 

Tennis West Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Lead Zara Cavalot is excited about the support and learnings that Pride in Sport will provide when helping promote positive messages and examples around LGBTQIA+ inclusion for tennis programs at Tennis West.  

“Tennis West is excited be partnering with Pride in Sport. Becoming a Pride in Sport member marks a significant step for Tennis West as we strive to create a truly inclusive sporting culture. We are committed to ensuring that every member of the LGBTQIA+ community feels seen, supported, and celebrated, both on and off the court. This partnership reaffirms our dedication to diversity, equality, and belonging in tennis.”  Zara said. 

Tennis West has recently been part of the support bid video for Perth to host the World Gay Games in 2030. Tennis West CEO Olivia Birkett believes “It is important that we take an active allyship role, and demonstrate to our affiliated clubs and participants, that there are steps that everyone can take. We want tennis to be the most inclusive sport in Western Australia.”  

Data from the 2020 PSI National Survey showed that just 44% of LGBTQ people felt mentally well within their sport, with 44% of people who are not an active LGBTQ Ally saying they were too busy to be engaged in individual activities.  

Data from the Out on the Fields study showed that 80% of people have either witnessed or experienced homophobia in sport, with 75% believing that an openly gay person would not be safe as a spectator at a sporting event.  

Data from the LGBTIQ+ Health Australia showing that LGBTQ young people aged 16 to 27 are five times more likely to attempt suicide compared to the general population, with transgender people aged 18 and over nearly eleven times more likely. 

Beau Newell, National Program Manager of Pride in Sport Australia, said actual and perceived social exclusion is a leading cause of preventable death in Australia, and creating a much healthier and safer sporting culture for LGBTQIA+ people has never been more important. 

“By joining Pride in Sport and working with ACON, the Tennis West is showing the community that they care about the health and wellbeing of their athletes, and members across Western Australia” Newell said. 

“Congratulations to Tennis West for leading the way in changing Australia’s sporting culture, to be more inclusive.” 

Pride in Sport is Australia’s first and only sexuality and gender diverse sporting inclusion program for the Australian sporting sector.