Wodonga Hockey Club throws support behind Fair go, sport! round

The round was created to raise awareness around the challenges faced by gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and intersex (GLBTI) sports people, and the need for all clubs and codes to work harder to be inclusive.

Wodonga Hockey Club, with the support of Hockey Albury-Wodonga, will join other clubs and associations between Thursday, August 2 and Wednesday, August 8, in wearing rainbow socks as a way of showing its commitment to creating a sporting club that is safe, supportive and inclusive of all.

“In pulling on a pair of rainbow socks, our members are taking a stand against homophobia, transphobia and biphobia and the physical and psychological harm that these forms of discrimination can cause,” Wodonga Hockey Club secretary Marg Brown said.

Acting Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commissioner Karen Toohey said sporting clubs would know they were truly inclusive when a player’s sexuality, race or gender identity were no longer cause for comment.

“Unwelcoming behaviour doesn’t have to be overt and blatant,” Toohey said.

“In fact, often the hardest thing for GLBTI players is the unspoken, persistent assumption among their teammates that everyone in the club is straight.

“That belief alone is often enough to persuade people to hide their sexuality.”

Toohey commended Hockey Victoria for taking part in the project.

“Fair go, sport! is not about coming out, but about helping clubs create safe, supportive and inclusive sporting environments through awareness, education and leadership, as well as inclusive codes, policies, procedures, and events,” she said.

“By getting involved, Hockey Victoria has put out the welcome mat to all players.”

Toohey hopes it will be a beacon for other codes.

“We would welcome more codes making the effort to create inclusive, accepting cultures within clubs,” she said.

“Many sports believe they don’t have a problem because no-one ever reveals there’s a problem.

“Yet research tells us almost four out of five GLBTI people who play mainstream sport have not revealed their sexual or gender identity to their teammates.”

Toohey believes all sporting clubs and codes have a responsibility to provide a safe environment.