Launching an LGBT+ network in sport: Replay!

Published by Jon Holmes on

Missed our ‘Ready, Get Set, Go!’ webinar event, which kicked off our #AuthenticMe week? Or want to watch again? Read on…

By Jon Holmes

Our first Sports Media LGBT+ #AuthenticMe digital webinar event, in association with Pride Sports, was titled ‘Ready, Get Set, Go! Launching an LGBT+ Network in Sport’ – and you can watch it back here!

In 2020, we’ve seen new LGBT+ networks publicly launched in the UK in athletics, aquatic sports, and horseracing – all backed by major national governing bodies, and also supported by us here at Sports Media LGBT+.

Meanwhile, Racing Pride – the network group for LGBTQ+ people and allies in motorsport – continues to go from strength to strength, forging partnerships, creating tailored resources, and attracting talent and Ambassadors.

To kick off Sports Media LGBT+’s #AuthenticMe Week, which culminates in International Coming Out Day, we brought together four key figures from these networks for a conversation on Zoom about how they got started, lessons from their launch, growth and engagement, and what the future holds.

Ethan Akanni (Athletics Pride Network), Richard Morris (Racing Pride), Rose Grissell (Racing With Pride) and Josh Rudd (Pride In Water) spoke on the ‘Ready, Get Set, Go!’ webinar

The event was delivered with the help of our friends at Pride Sports – and thanks to them, we can share it here from the Facebook Live stream. Skip to 2m 35s for the start!

It’s packed with advice for anyone in sport whose role already includes LGBT+ inclusion work, as well as those who want to learn more about this important part of the diversity and equality picture.

Joining Sports Media LGBT+ founder / lead and Sky Sports senior editor Jon Holmes for this webinar were…

Check out our full tweet thread from the webinar for loads of quotes and comments from our speakers, such as the example below… a big thank you to Andrew Henderson from Pride of the Terraces for the social media support.

If you’d like to learn more about this event, and how it happened, please email jon@sportsmedialgbt.com or use our Contact form.

Meanwhile, on Tuesday 6 October, we explored LGBTQ+ mental fitness in football in an event titled ‘Creating Space’. Watch a replay of the event here.

AND… we’re also hosting an #AuthenticMe Social via Zoom on Thursday 8 October, from 6.30pm BST. You’re invited! Details here of how to get involved.

Further reading…

#AuthenticMe: Golden memories!

Rainbow Ready: Communicating LGBT+ Inclusion in Sport


Jon Holmes

Digital Sports Editor