LGBTQ+ Project Update
As some of you may know, for the last couple of years, the Volleyball England Foundation have been working alongside The Good Trouble, to support the development and understanding around the LGBTQ+ volleyball landscape.
The latest development we have to share is from March. Keep scrolling down if you’d like to have a read!
Some key insights that have been taken from the research so far are…
The Impact of Gender Norms- Many LGBTQ+ individuals feel excluded due to rigid gender binaries within sports structures.
“Growing up gay and LGBT+ means we didn’t play a lot of sport because it is so gender-normed.”
“This gendered binary makes it very uncomfortable to join sport.”
“Men are sporty… so everything masculine has to be sporty – so where are feminine, LGBT+ people meant to go?”
The Importance of Inclusive Spaces- A welcoming, non-judgemental environment significantly increases participation and retention.
“A non-judgemental space is so, so key!”
“People want to join a sober, fun and active club with people they can see themselves in.”
“People had so much joy when they found their safe space where they can be recognised as their true authentic selves.”
Structural Barriers- Financial constraints, geographical accessibility, and traditional classification systems present challenges for LGBTQ+ players.
“Fear of discrimination leads to hiding their identity and impacts behaviour.”
“They will be discriminated against in the men’s team as well – so there is nowhere for them to play.”
“Financial barriers.”
Representation and Role Models- The visibility of LGBTQ+ athletes and club leaders fosters a sense of belonging and encourages participation.
“Representation is a huge deal when it comes to access.”
“People will have to hide themselves out of fear of discrimination.”
“Some people come out at different times, meaning they can lose friends and then search for a new community in sports.”
Call for Change- Participants strongly support revising traditional gender-based classifications, advocating for mixed leagues and skill-based classifications.
“Sport should be all about availability, not ability.”
“Do we need to reconsider the way we classify the sport – taller net and lower net instead of having it gendered?”
“A mixed league would be helpful because some people would enjoy this more than being forced into a sports box.”
Our aim is to break down these barriers, and make volleyball a safe space for everyone to enjoy.
We can’t wait to see what the guys get up to with their findings in the third phase!
