Charter to include and involve more LGBT people in Scottish sport
Tackling discrimination took a major step forward this week with the launch of a new charter to actively involve more people from LGBT communities in sport.
The charter was developed by the Equality Network, Scotland’s national LGBT equality and human rights charity, in response to the findings of its Out for Sport report (2012), which found significant barriers for LGBT people participating in Scottish sport and little to no action being taken at the time by sports bodies to reduce those barriers.
It commits signatories to taking practical action to ensure that “Scotland will be a country where everyone can take part, enjoy, and succeed in sport at all levels whatever their sexual orientation and gender identity” and it sets out five principles that signatories agree to meet.
LGBT people in Scotland still face significant barriers to full inclusion in sport - Scott Cuthbertson
The first signatories include Sportscotland, Team Scotland, the Scottish Football Association (SFA), Scottish Athletics, and Waterski Scotland, among other Scottish sports and governing bodies.
Scott Cuthbertson, development coordinator of the Equality Network, said: “We know through our research that LGBT people in Scotland still face significant barriers to full inclusion in sport.
"The launch of the Scottish LGBT Sports Charter is an important step to addressing those barriers and commits those involved in the delivery of sport to taking practical action to tackle discrimination and increase LGBT involvement.”
Launched at Hampden Park, the home of Scottish football, Stewart Regan, chief executive of the Scottish Football Association, said the charter would be both promoted and encouraged.
“The Scottish FA is proud to sign this charter and is committed to increasing accessibility and opportunities for all,” he said.
“The national sport will work in partnership to engage and inspire the LGBT community.”
It is anticipated that the number of sports governing bodies (SGBs) and other sports bodies signed up to the charter will increase further over the coming months.
Stewart Harris, chief executive of sportscotland, added: “At sportscotland we are building a world class sporting system for everyone in Scotland and we view this charter as an important step in that journey."
