Insight Sport Pride edition: AIS athletes stand up for inclusivity and expose toll of gay stigmas

As the PRIDE edition of Insight Sport approaches, sixteen of the country’s top athletes have stepped forward as ambassadors for an inclusive sport program.

Emma Greenwood

3 min read

10:22AMFebruary 17, 2023.

Updated 9:04AMFebruary 18, 2023

News Corp Australia Sports Newsroom

Insight Sport is here - All for equal play

Sixteen of the country’s most high-profile athletes have committed to making sport a more inclusive and diverse landscape after being named Australian Institute of Sport Thrive with Pride ambassadors.

The ambassadors will be officially announced on Friday for the AIS program run under the guidance of sporting inclusion organisations Pride in Sport and Proud 2 Play.

The program aims to support LGBTIQ+ athletes and allies help to create respectful, educated and inclusive sporting communities across the country and in 2023, has enlisted the help of ambassadors including Olympic gold medallist Matthew Mitcham, Aussie Stingers water polo captain and three-time Olympian Rowie Webster, Diamonds netballer Ruby Bakewell-Doran and national gymnastics representative Heath Thorpe.

Front cover of Pride edition, Insight Sport

The announcement comes ahead of the second edition of Insight Sport, a News Corp publication taking a deeper look at the issues and athletes in women’s and inclusive sport.

To coincide with WorldPride 2023 and Sydney Mardi Gras, next week’s second edition is a Pride celebration highlighting the stories of some of Australia’s most high-profile sportswomen.

Insight will detail the personal challenges they faced coming out in sport and their battles to make their sports a safe space for others, the stigma they have faced from officials and spectators, and their determination to live their true lives to make their sports a safer and more welcoming place for others.

Netball and AFLW superstar Ash Brazill talks about why she didn’t want to be the first openly gay netballer in Australia and the private battles she overcame to be her true self.

Megan Schutt reveals her personal fury at being told as a young player that women’s cricket had “coerced” her into being a lesbian, as she calls on Cricket Australia to lift its game in promoting inclusivity.

Cricketer Megan Schutt is among the athletes to detail her story in next week’s edition of Insight. Photo: Getty Images

Their actions are being heard by their peers and supported by the likes of the Thrive with Pride ambassadors.

Australian Diamonds player Ruby Bakewell-Doran is passionate about creating safe sporting environments for all ages.

“For me being part of the Thrive with Pride Program is a step towards creating spaces where people really feel like they belong and are free to express themselves as they truly are,” the netballer said.

“Authenticity should never be hindered - it’s what makes us go from good to great. And as an ally, I want to help empower people in the LGBTIQ+ community to bring their whole selves, in spaces that will always have their backs.”

Elite netball and AFLW player Ash Brazill will detail her story in next week’s edition of Insight. Picture: Mark Stewart

Sprint cyclist Kalinda Robinson echoed this and is determined to improve the experience for the next generation of athletes.

“As a young athlete growing up in a rural area with discrimination highly prevalent, LGBTIQ+ representation in sport gave me hope that I might one day have the courage to live my truth,” she said.

“My aspiration in putting myself forward for the Thrive with Pride Program was to provide younger athletes with more representation so that they might be brave enough to live true to their identity, and to educate others in the creation of a safe and supportive community.”

Commonwealth Games lawn bowls medallist Serena Bonnell is also eager to use her profile to push for more inclusive practices within sport.

“As a Para athlete I know what inclusion is intimately and I know how exclusion can negatively impact the trajectory of someone’s life,” Bonnell said.

Para bowler Serena Bonnell is an AIS Thrive with Pride ambassador for 2023. Photo: Getty Images

“I am excited to be an ambassador because I believe sport should be accessible for all people regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, ability or background.”

AIS Acting Director Matti Clements congratulated each of the new ambassadors and said the appointment has come at a momentous time.

“We know how powerful the athlete’s voice is so to have 16 Australian athletes helping to educate and drive such important initiatives and conversations is really exciting,” Clements said.

“There’s also a huge amount of momentum at the moment with close to 20 sporting events being held during the Sydney WorldPride 2023 festival, all aimed at promoting visibility and inclusion of LGBTIQ+ people in sport, which is what our program is all about.”