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June 17, 2022
Just ahead of the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games, Beyond the Games 2022 in partnership with Sport England and UK Sport is set to take place at Villa Park on 26th July. Among the issues we’ll be exploring with leaders from the domestic and international sport sector is sport’s role in tackling inequalities. Discussions will focus on creating greater social equity in and through sport, community-led and owned programming, reducing barriers to participation and a UK-wide ‘levelling up’. Read our story below on how Pride House Birmingham is working to address LGBTIQ+ issues on inclusion in the UK and wider Commonwealth and promote LGBTIQ+ participation in sport and physical activity.
Register to take part in discussions like this at the Beyond the Games 2022 Forum.
Pride House Birmingham (PHB) launched last year with the aim to create a safe space and welcoming, inclusive environment for supporters, athletes, staff, volunteers and organisations during the Commonwealth Games. It is delivered by UK based sports development and inclusion organisation, Pride Sports. The Pride House concept, however, was created for the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympic Games. Since then, there have been more than 20 Pride Houses at international sporting events around the world. This year, for the first time in Pride House history, PHB’s venue will be fully integrated into the Games, ensuring wider awareness and programming of events.
Situated in the heart of Birmingham’s Gay Village, PHB will explore the diversity across the Commonwealth, showcasing talent, promoting freedom of expression and delivering a regional legacy that supports LGBTQ+ inclusive sports projects. It is based on three pillars: Celebrate, Participate and Educate. Programming ahead of the Games includes community sport and physical activity, cultural events, conferencing, education and engagement with local schools, as well as a variety of parties and other events celebrating the diverse community.
As part of the education pillar, for the next year, programming focused on sport, human rights and The Commonwealth will be held for a broad range of stakeholders. “Birmingham 2022 will provide an opportunity to send a powerful global message about human rights – and it should not be missed,” said England netball medal hope Stacey Francis-Bayman.
In the UK, reports of homophobic and transphobic hate crimes have soared over the last six years according to data from VICE World News. Since 2015, homophobic hate crime reports have tripled, and transphobic hate crimes have quadrupled. Additionally, a report into anti-LGBTQ+ hate crime shows that 3 in 5 LGBTQ+ people experiencing hate crime want and need help, but only 1 in 5 are able to access any support.
Shortly after its creation, PHB announced The Commonwealth Sport Pride Network to champion LGBTQ+ inclusion. The timing of the network’s launch coincided with the spate of homophobic attacks across Birmingham,provoking outrage from communities and the government. Commonwealth Games Minister Nigel Huddleston said of Pride Network: “This network is a fantastic opportunity to celebrate the extraordinary achievements of the LGBTQ+ Commonwealth community. I hope it will be a powerful voice for LGBTQ+ athletes and harness the power of this unique sporting family to strengthen our shared Commonwealth goals of democracy, development and peace.”
The space also comes as a haven for those athletes native to the 35 sovereign states of the Commonwealth where homosexual activity remains a criminal offense. Across the wider Commonwealth, a large majority of countries still criminalize homosexuality. In fact, half of the countries where homosexuality is illegal are Commonwealth members. For example, the death penalty is still enshrined in law in Pakistan and lengthy sentences for gay sex still remain in many African nations such as Uganda and Caribbean islands.
The 2022 Commonwealth Games are aiming to be the most inclusive Games on record with initiatives such as PHB, an extensive Para program and the first major sporting event to hand out more medals to women than men. Alongside the Games, PHB is poised to celebrate and spark conversations for change.
Last month, a panel was held in the Village to explore the connection between the Games and LGBTQ+ rights, with discussions including how the platform provided by the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games can be used to push change for LGTBIQ+ rights.
“We’re in a time of opportunity…Birmingham is known for being a very multicultural city, so we need to make it as inclusive as possible by giving visibility to the Games,” said Aston Villa footballer, Anita Asante.
“People will see certain levels of acceptance outside the LGBTIQ+ community. But obviously, there are ways to go, there are lots of Commonwealth countries that still have hostile laws and policies. This is an opportunity to raise that issue, but also celebrate our community and all the good things that go along with it.”
Sources: Birmingham Live, Pride House
Join us at Beyond the Games in partnership with Sport England and UK Sport on the 26th of July. Early-bird pass are available for a limited time.
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