A call for same-sex rights and equality is coming from students at Melbourne University sport.
In support of diversity, inclusion and marriage equality, the University Blacks Football Club has arranged a series of events that will take place this weekend.
The action comes after Lachlan Beaton, founder of ‘Gay? That’s OK!’, recently released a powerful video telling his struggles while dealing with his sexuality as a student at the University of Melbourne and a member of the Blacks Football Club.
‘Gay? That’s OK!’ is a campaign encouraging young people to feel comfortable with their sexuality, “sending a message of acceptance that reaches out to people who really need it,” Beaton said.
He said it’s in these traditional masculine environments that “gay people quite often feel excluded.”
“Due to an underlying inequality that exists in society, rates of discrimination are still quite high in masculine-dominated areas,” he said.
While these surroundings can have harmful effects on same-sex attracted people, team sport is an important means of being mentally healthy.
Shaun Staunton, project manager at LGBTI Communities’ Beyondblue, said, “If LGBT people are able to participate in mainstream community events such as sports, they have lower psychological stress and are more resilient, which is a sign for positive mental health.”
The graph below shows the rate of resilience for LGBT people participating in mainstream community events. This resilience is the ability to bounce back from a traumatic event, proving that sport and community involvement can be beneficial to mental wellbeing.
As Beaton said, “Two of the most important things to help you with your mental health are socialisation and exercise and sport ticks both of those boxes.”
The club will hold a ticket-only luncheon on Friday, August 28, featuring Beaton and ex-Hawthorn Football Club player Russell Greene.
The lunch aims to “highlight the sorts of impact that discrimination and bullying can have and the things that everyone can do in everyday life to make sure that same-sex people live a happy, everyday life,” Beaton said.
There’s a game on Saturday, with the Blacks team running out in customised rainbow jumpers, creating an aurora of LGBT pride.
Uni Blacks player Jordan Quaile is in full support of the campaign and said, “We just need to start the conversation, especially in masculine environments like footy clubs.”
While the University of Melbourne is taking steps forward, Staunton said, “All sports teams need to be making an effort to ensure their environments are inclusive.”
Image supplied by Melbourne University Sport.
Simon Hogan, Charles Beaton, Angie Greene and Lachlan Beaton don the rainbow jumpers for Saturday’s match.
For more information about the events please visit www.gaythatsok.com or http://sport.unimelb.edu.au/news–gay-thats-ok.html
Lifeline, 13 11 14
MensLine, 1300 789 978
Beyondblue, 1300 224 636; beyondblue.org.au
