The 2025 Pride in Sport Festival is a national initiative aimed at breaking down barriers and increasing participation in sport among LGBTQ+ people. With a focus on engaging non-active LGBTQ+ individuals, the festival provides opportunities for inclusive, fun, and welcoming sporting experiences that promote both physical and mental well-being.
As part of the 2025 Pride in Sport Festival, Victoria, New South Wales and Western Australia hosted Badminton Open Days simultaneously on March 15 to foster LGBTQ+ inclusion and create a stronger sense of belonging within the badminton community.
Sonia Gouveia, National Participation and Para Manager says “From the moment we put a call out for LGBTQIA+ clubs to support our grant application, there was no hesitation. This is a community that has each other’s backs, and it has been a joint effort throughout the whole process to bring the idea to life, making sure what was delivered was impactful and achieved its purpose – to bring people together and show badminton in the best light, without any barriers in the way to participating.”
With over 200 participants attending across the three states, the events created an inclusive and vibrant space where both new and experienced players could enjoy the sport. Beyond the fun and competitive games, it was an opportunity to promote and support LGBTQIA+ badminton clubs, giving them greater exposure and helping community members discover local groups they may not have known about. The energy, positive vibes, and sense of belonging throughout the event demonstrated just how important it is to create safe and welcoming spaces in sport. Featuring vibrant celebrations of inclusivity, with rainbow flags adorning tables and net posts, temporary tattoo stations, face paints and rainbow medals, there were also coaching stations for beginners and improvers, quick-fire tournaments, snacks and even a DJ to keep the energy levels high.
Sonia further adds that “The events were a huge success, with positive feedback received from all participants. Badminton Australia is looking forward to building on this momentum and providing further support for welcoming and inclusive badminton spaces as part of our national participation plan. The clubs gained new members which is a fantastic outcome for badminton and hopefully we have some new fans of the game too”.
Pride in Sport National Program Manager Beau Newell highlighted the importance of the festival:
“The Pride in Sport Festival is about breaking barriers and creating opportunities. It’s no secret that LGBTQ+ people face higher rates of exclusion from sport, often due to fear of discrimination, lack of representation, or simply not feeling welcome. This initiative offers LGBTQ+ individuals a chance to connect, participate, and thrive in a safe and supportive environment.”
“Research from the Pride in Sport Index (PSI) National Survey shows that LGBTQ+ people are less likely to participate in sport due to fear of discrimination, past negative experiences, or the perception that sport isn’t a space for them. Initiatives like this help us change that narrative.”
“By partnering with organisations like Badminton Australia, we can foster inclusive sporting environments and ensure everyone has the chance to enjoy the benefits of sport – including those with diverse sexuality or gender identity.”
To find out more about what Badminton Australia is doing around LGBTQIA+ inclusion, visit https://www.badminton.org.au/lgbtq-badminton/ or follow our social channels.
