discover the journey of these inspiring athletes
When I first started skating, I found it quite intimidating to practice outside at the skatepark. That was partly because I was still unsteady on my board, but also because of the atmosphere. Comments like “that was gay” when a trick didn’t work out, or graffiti with the word homo…
From the beginning, I kept hearing the story that I was ‘different’. I couldn’t speak to anyone about it because I didn’t know what my ‘problem’ was. Everything went well, even at school, but there were still moments during which I felt I was at a low point. I started Googling these feelings I was experiencing and landed on the word ‘intersex’.
In the meantime, I am 27 years old and since mid-March I have been telling my loved ones and the outside world that I fall in love with men and not women. Quite a step, which was accompanied by doubts and a little fear. After my first conversations with the team and my loved ones, it turned out that this was unnecessary. For people who experience the same fear as I do, I would like to tell my story.
Over the almost four years that I’ve been out in ultimate there has been a steadily increasing number of out trans and non-binary players, including several that have specifically reached out to me to say how I’ve helped lead the way. This is the power of representation. This is the power of out, vocal, and visible LGBTQ+ athletes. Those who have taken the steps before can help lead the way for those who come after.
discover our involvement in various projects
With the support of the Domestic Governance Agency, Out For The Win and Sportieq are launching a new practice guide to promote the inclusion of gender- and sex-diverse individuals in sports. The guide provides sports organizations with concrete tools to remove barriers and create a safer, inclusive sports environment.
Together with European partners, we aim to promote inclusion of LGBTQI+ athletes and fight discrimination in grassroots sport in response to the ongoing challenges these communities face in the world of sports.
Together toward an inclusive sports environment for gender and sex-diverse persons. We thus aim to contribute to the safety and well-being of gender- and sex-diverse people by creating a more inclusive environment to increase sports participation.
With this guide, Pro League football clubs, as well as other sports clubs in Belgium, will find tools for an inclusive sports club that strives to create a safe and enjoyable experience and perception for LGBTQIA+ athletes, staff and supporters.
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