‘A totally different approach’: A-Leagues praised for detailed pride round plan

The A-Leagues have been lauded for what an expert has described as one of the most genuine and meaningful pride initiatives ever seen in world sport, which that has been carefully designed to avoid the sort of controversy that has engulfed other codes.

Timed to coincide with Sydney WorldPride and the Mardi Gras parade on the same weekend, the “Pride Celebration” round – which will take place on February 24-26 – has been 18 months in the making and, crucially, has been underpinned by consultation with players and clubs, and an education and training program intended to help stamp out homophobic attitudes from the game.

Kayla Morrison, Isabel Hodgson and Josh Brillante promoting pride round at AAMI Park.Credit: Getty

Only two clubs will wear dedicated pride jerseys: Melbourne Victory and Adelaide United, whose men’s and women’s teams will square off in the Pride Cup match at AAMI Park on the Sunday. One other team, A-League Women’s side Canberra United, will have rainbow-coloured numbers on their backs, while all home teams that weekend will also have rainbow corner flags and other similar digital or physical signage.

Captains will be able to wear a rainbow armband if they wish, and while this masthead is aware of one who is unlikely to do so, it is on an opt-in basis, unlike other pride rounds in the NRL and NBL that have forced players and teams into wearing them without prior discussion, triggering backlash within and outside those sports.

“We didn’t just dive into it without consultation,” said A-Leagues chief executive Danny Townsend. “Equally, [we were] learning from some of the other codes that may not have executed [pride rounds] in the way they would have hoped, and we felt that education was a key pillar of our program.”

Townsend said every A-League club had undergone 24 training sessions in the past four months to educate players and staff about LGBTQ issues and inclusivity in sport.

Adelaide United defender Josh Cavallo at the Australian Open’s pride day last month.Credit: Fiona Hamilton / Tennis Australia

Dr Erik Denison, from Monash University’s Behaviour Science Institute, was surprised with how much groundwork had gone into the round, and was pleased with the specificity of its aims: to reduce the use of homophobic language within sporting environments, which has negative mental health impacts on young people who are yet to reveal their sexuality.

He said while there was research that pride rounds at the professional level provide no real benefit to anyone other than the players taking part, by encouraging community clubs to host their own pride events, the message can be spread much further.

“I’ve taken a very detailed look at what they’re doing,” he said. “Even if you go to the North America with the National Hockey League, which pioneered this concept of doing pride games, I have not seen this level of detail planning or co-ordination or education.

“In contrast to what they’ve done in the NBL, and in tennis recently, and especially the NRL, football is taking a totally different approach where they seem to be completely focused on the community, and really trying to encourage community clubs to host these events – that’s where we see the real change.

“We really just need every sports club around the country to host these kinds of events, because they don’t seem to just reduce homophobic language, but also sexist language and even racist language. They help shift these toxic, ingrained cultural norms, which no one’s tried to change in sport before. It gets conversations going.”

Sydney WorldPride chief executive Kate Wickett welcomed the A-Leagues’ announcement as a statement of commitment to diversity, inclusion and creating a safe and welcoming environment for all.

“Diversity and inclusion should be at the heart of every sports organisation, as they bring people together and break down barriers,” she said. “By embracing diversity and creating a safe and inclusive environment for all we foster a sense of belonging and respect for all individuals, regardless of their background or identity.”

Watch every match of the UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League and UEFA Europa Conference League on Stan Sport. Returns for the round of 16 in February 2023, with all matches streaming ad-free, live and on demand.

Sports news, results and expert commentary. Sign up for our Sport newsletter.