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As the newest member of the Australian Pride in Sport program, Surf Life Saving Australia (SLSA) is committing to further develop and enhance the inclusion of people with diverse sexualities and genders across the Surf Life Saving movement.  

Surf Life Saving Australia’s commitment to Pride in Sport aligned with Lifesavers with Pride featuring as the principal float at the 2020 Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras last night (29th February 2020).

SLSA joins the ranks of a host of other Australian sporting codes and associations including AFL, NRL, Cricket Australia and Rugby AU.

ACON Health’s Pride in Sport program is the only sporting inclusion program specifically designed to assist National and State sporting organisations and clubs with the inclusion of sexuality and gender diverse employees, participants, coaches, volunteers and spectators.

SLSA Chief Executive Adam Weir, is excited about the opportunity that Pride in Sport will play when helping promote positive messages and examples around LGBTQ+ inclusion.

Weir enthuses “Surf Life Saving Australia (SLSA) is pleased to have partnered with Pride in Sport. SLSA aims to make beaches across the country a completely inclusive place that everyone feels welcome.

“Surf lifesaving is for everyone and surf lifesavers come from all walks of life and help to create dynamic surf lifesaving clubs that are an integral part of local communities.

“We want all of our members to feel safe, included and looked after irrespective of age, gender, ethnic background, sexual orientation and economic status.”

Surf Life Saving Australia and Lifesavers with Pride have been continuously working closely together to create a more inclusive, progressive and welcoming lifesaving culture for the LGBTQ+ community.

Lifesavers with Pride have been participating in the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras parade since 2007 with current or previous surf lifesavers from clubs and states all over Australia taking part.

National Program Manager of Pride in Sport Australia, Beau Newell, 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 LGBTQ+ people has never been more important.

Newell added “by joining Pride in Sport working with ACON, Surf Life Saving Australia is showing the community that they care about the health and wellbeing of all of their members.

“Congratulations to Surf Life Saving for leading the way in changing Australia’s sporting and recreation culture, to be more inclusive.”

Image top courtesy of Surf Life Saving Australia https://sls.com.au/

Image above: Lifesavers with Pride featured as the principal float at the 2020 Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras last night and were joined by Dua Lipa.

 

Related Articles

24th February 2020 - Surf Life Saving NSW runs successful training program in Thailand

15th February 2020 - Youth inspired at Surf Life Saving Australia annual leadership college

4th January 2020 - Surf Life Saving NSW responds to bushfire crisis

12th April 2019 - Pride in Sport welcomes NSW Rugby Union and Rugby Australia action against Israel Folau

2nd March 2019 - Sydney Mardi Gras receives funding boost to bid for WorldPride 2023

19th May 2014 - Stadiums recognised as indicators of national pride and sporting success

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