FEATURE: FOSTERING INCLUSION OF LGBTQ COMMUNITY IN SPORT Q: How important do you feel it A: I would suggest openness is one of theWe have to be willing is that senior management most effective strategies to inclusion. We officials within sport are have to be willing to talk about the issues to talk about the issues facing LGBTQ athletes to understand howfacing LGBTQ athletes outspoken on issues importantwe need to change our environments and to both them and the general that cannot be done behind closed doors.to understand how we community? need to change our A: Firstly, it is important for leaders in Q: How helpful do you think it management within sports to be across would be in creating a better environments and that the issues that affect LGBTQ inclusion soenvironment for LGBTQ athletescannot be done behind they can advocate productively on issuesif sporting organisations hadclosed doors. that are in the public domain. One of the explicit anti-discrimination responsibilities of CEOs is to ensure that policies and resources on the their sports do not exclude any group kinds of support available for from feeling part of their particular sports think they are being discriminatory and community and to ensure this, you need LGBTQ athletes? so we need to spell it out. to know where the difficulties lie and how you can break down the barriers. Being A: I am a firm believer in the more Q: Anything specific you wanted outspoken on issues outside of your coreknowledge you can get out there, theto add? business is something that is often quicker the path to solutions. So the debated, however, there is nothing moremore resources and policies, the better, important than leaders— whether they however to make them effective, there A: I don’t think there are any easy answers be from business, sport or community—has to be strong leadership. to these issues however we do need to they need to be thought provokers and continue to learn, educate and embrace catalysts for change. As we saw with Q: What are your thoughts on all the issues related to LGBTQ athletes the marriage equality debate, leadership a code of conduct for patrons to ensure they can feel comfortable in from key figures within the community any environment. had a profound effect on the end result regarding LGBTQ inclusion and this needs to continue into inclusion that also includes an anti- into the sports space. discrimination policy? For a wealth of resources on Q: In your experience, what A: When developing anti-discrimination creating a more LGBTQ-inclusive policies, we need to be clear in calling out culture at your club, workplace or strategies are most effective all sorts of discrimination and being very sporting organisation, visit Athlete in fostering a safe environment clear as I believe people often don’t Ally www.athleteally.org. for LGBTQ athletes? VOLUME 36 • ISSUE 3 2018 35 znyojne/segamiytteg