THE Wodonga Hockey Club is taking a stand against homophobia and is urging other local clubs and sporting codes to join in.
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Everyone playing this weekend will don rainbow coloured socks to bring attention to the cause and send the message that sexual discrimination is just not on.
“All club members will play in rainbow socks this coming round to help get the message out that homophobic harassment, discrimination and exclusion is no longer acceptable in sport,” club president Kyle Brereton said.
“We believe it is very important to be a welcoming and inclusive club where all members feel comfortable and valued.”
The brightly coloured socks the club will be sporting are just one part of a larger movement designed to tackle homophobia in sport which is being spearheaded by the Victorian government, through the Human Rights Commission.
The "Fair Go, Sport!” project began in 2011 in conjunction with hockey's state and national governing bodies, before support came from other sporting codes, including football and basketball.
The project was conceived after research indicated that "sport is a significant site of homophobic harassment, discrimination and exclusion,” the Fair Go website said.
In conjuntion with Hockey Victoria, a three part plan to increase awareness of sexual and gender diversity, promote safe and inclusive sporting environments and spread the message to other codes was launched.
Brereton said the Wodonga Hockey club had jumped on board to be a part of the solution.
"Sporting clubs have a capacity to effect great change,” Brereton said.
“The importance of this message really struck a chord with our club, we saw it as a very progressive cause and we are really happy to be a part of it.
“We proud to say that we're not only the first hockey club within the region to be an active member of the program, but also the first of any sporting organisation.
“For us it's about being responsible members of the community and our club members are behind us 100 per cent.
“It's about getting the message out to our younger members and other participants in the sport and educating them that behaviour of that kind shouldn't be tolerated and won't be tolerated in any sport.”
The club secured sponsorship for the socks from Quest Apartments and Hockey Albury-Wodonga, with the proceeds going to the Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission.
"We've been very fortunate to have the support we’ve had in doing this,” Brereton said.
“Hockey Victoria also provided us direction and advice on how to adopt and roll out the program."
The club will also release a short video on Facebook this Friday, detailing what the program means to its members this Friday.
“We’re hoping that more clubs will take up the cause further down the track," Brereton said.