Every year International PRIDE Month is held during June.
The month is marked on the calendar as a time to celebrate diversity, promote inclusion and support the LGBTIQA+ community.
Netball NSW will be getting into the spirit, as the state’s leading competitions hold their themed rounds.
Both the Metro and Premier League logos have been updated for the occasion, incorporating colours from the rainbow flag.
Host venue Netball Central has also been decorated with rainbow seat covers.
Educational posters in conjuncture with organisation Proud2Play have been put up to spread awareness, while a resource sheet has been sent to each of the participating associations to give them the tools to ensure everyone feels welcome and valued at netball.
Further to this, Proud2Play merchandise will be available on the night.
As will a handy booklet called the Pride Guide put together by North Shore United training partner and Netball NSW men’s and mixed player Mitch McBurnie.
“Visibility matters because there are people out there who don't want to be themselves in their day to day lives,” McBurnie said.
“For players, spectators and emerging athletes to be able to come to Premier League and wear the rainbow and see the trans flag on the side of the court, it can honestly make a big difference.
“It makes them feel comfortable to be themselves in any environment that they’re in.
“As sport might not necessarily feel like a safe place to be, so it helps break down that barrier.”
McBurnie has been playing netball for a long time and knows the sport like the back of his hand.
And although he thinks PRIDE Round is the perfect place to start a conversation amongst teammates or at your club, he believes the PRIDE Guide can extend that conversation beyond the netball court.
By creating an easy-to-read booklet that people can keep in their training bag, McBurnie hopes all players and coaches will be able to take it home and use it to create change all year round.
“Premier League is a really amazing space,” McBurnie said.
“We have so many spectacular athletes from all over New South Wales playing here and so it's really good to be able to wear the rainbow and talk about PRIDE Round.
“But the idea behind the PRIDE Guide is to have something really practical that an athlete can go home and read.
“For instance, it has information about how to support a trans or non-binary teammate.
“It has information about how you can make your uniform and bathrooms feel safer.
“It was about just having something that anyone can pick up and get some really practical hands-on-advice about a subject matter that can sometimes feel a bit icky and too complicated to talk about.
“We don't have much information on this topic readily available, so it's a book made by netballers for netballers with the aim of hoping to keep our sport a fun and safe space.”
Access Beyond the Court Inclusion Resource here
