Sporting Pride Conference in Birmingham to bring together LGBTQ+ communities in sport

Unique one-day event to be held on Saturday, April 23, in the venue space for Pride House Birmingham in heart of city’s Gay Village; Pride Sports UK, Athletics Pride Network, Pride In Water and Sports Media LGBT+ are conference partners, with GSK sponsoring; register to attend for network and learning opportunities…

By Jon Holmes

Registration is open for the Sporting Pride Conference, which will unite people from across the LGBTQ+-inclusive sport and physical activity sectors in the UK.

The Conference on Saturday, April 23, is being organised by Pride Sports UK and the team behind Pride House Birmingham – the venue dedicated to welcoming all those from LGBTQ+ communities and their allies at this summer’s Commonwealth Games – along with partners from the Athletics Pride Network and Pride In Water.

Both network groups were launched with the support of their respective national governing bodies back in 2020.

The event (starts 10am BST) is free to attend, and will be held in the same space that Pride House will occupy later this year located in Birmingham’s Gay Village, above The Loft Bar & Kitchen on Bromsgrove Street – just a short walk from Birmingham New Street Station.

One of the objectives of the Conference, which is sponsored by GSK, is to support NGBs who have already set up LGBTQ+ networks for employees, athletes, coaches and administrators, while also providing relevant information and guidance for those who are yet to start such a group.

Meanwhile, the event programming features a significant focus on LGBTQ+-inclusive community and grassroots sport, with workshops and sessions about how to create and grow regional clubs; how to successfully communicate with existing members and potential new recruits; welcoming trans and non-binary participants; fundraising strategies; and more.

There will also be a host of networking and social opportunities, including the latest in Sports Media LGBT+’s #AuthenticMe series of panel discussions with special guest speakers, to be held in the venue’s Main Bar in the early evening – full details here.

A buffet lunch, plus tea and coffee, will also be provided.

Andy Paul, one of the co-founders of the Athletics Pride Network and part of the team organising the Sporting Pride Conference, said: “This event is a first in terms of our relationships with NGBs and how they can better support our LGBTQ+ communities.

“The legacy of Pride House should be innovation and education and the Conference is a big step in that direction – a chance to meet, talk, be creative, and challenge.

Andy Paul (second from right)

“Right now, there are some key areas of discussion and development that require our communities and the NGBs to be speaking the same language.

“I’m looking forward to a great day and a great start to some really important work.”

Register here to attend the Sporting Pride Conference

To get social media updates leading up to the event, follow @PrideHouseBham on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook and TikTok.


Sports Media LGBT+ is a network, advocacy, and consultancy group that is helping to build a community of LGBTQ+ people and allies in sport. We’re also a digital publisher. Learn more about us here.

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