Ryan Storr is a Lecturer and Academic Course Advisor n Sport Development at Western Sydney University. He Recently completed his PhD at Victoria University, whereby his thesis explored how community sports clubs respond to diversity and engage in diversity work. He has have led several recent research projects, specifically around LGBTI+ inclusion within sport, with the most recent being a funded evaluation exploring the current level of LGBTI+ inclusion within an Australian sporting code. Ryan is also the co-founder and director of LGBTI+ sport charity Proud 2 Play.

Homophobia and transphobia are becoming a regular fixture in the Australian sporting calendar. Last year, Margaret Court served up anti-LGBT+ comments, while the AFL came under fire for its treatment of the first transgender player in the AFLW.

Now rugby union star Israel Folau has joined in, saying on Instagram that gay people will go to hell unless they repent their sins. His teammate Curtis Rona has spoken out in support of Israel’s views. Folau further expanded on his comments this week, penning an opinion piece where he quotes from the Bible and states “it was never my intention to hurt anyone with the Instagram comment”.

This seems to be part of a broader trend in sport. Last month, the chief executive of the Australian Weightlifting Federation called on the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the Commonwealth Games Federation to change their policies and ban NZ transgender weightlifter Laurel Hubbard from competing.

Some significant advancements have been made in gaining equality for LGBT+ athletes. Visibility of LGBT+ athletes has increased at the elite level and the IOC changed its policy on transgender athletes in 2016. However, there is still much work to be done.

Sport is not always a safe space

Research over the past decade has identified that homophobia, biphobia and transphobia are prevalent in Australian sport. A study I conducted with colleagues looked at diversity in community sports clubs and found that a more strategic approach to inclusion initiatives was needed. Read more via the Conversation