Gus Penaranda’s Post

I am sure many of us have followed the Olympics coverage for the last few weeks. I was keeping track of this while on holiday. Of course, the sports competition was amazing. Still, as always there was controversy from the drag queens at the opening ceremony to Imane Khelif's gender identity, and backlash around LGBTQ+ representation in sports. So it was great to return and listen to our recent podcast with Alan Lang who was the co-chair of the Gay Games to talk about this topic. To listen check out the link below. My key takeaways are: 👉 LGBTQ+ athletes face very unique challenges in professional sports, including discrimination, stigmatisation and barriers to entry starting from a young age and continuing through their carriers 👉Major events such as the Olympics can support and showcase LGBTQ+ talent by providing a highly visible platform to change people's perceptions, hearts and minds. 👉 Competitive sports by its very nature can be inherently unfair and the debate on trans inclusion is often oversimplified. It ignores systemic issues like unequal access to resources and training. It also ignores that women, including cis women, come in all shapes and sizes, and winning at the elite level often comes down to having advantageous characteristics. 👉 Finally, should sports be more about participation or are we all focussing on excellence which ultimately can limit access and is exclusive? Growing up in Australia where sports are revered I do understand how not being great at this can feel very exclusionary. All food for thought, so take a listen and see what you think, I certainly found it thought-provoking.

A gentle reminder: Not supporting homosexuality does not automatically equate to being homophobic. You don’t have to be an advocate for something to avoid being prejudiced or fearful of it. Similarly, you don’t have to actively support something to refrain from hating it. Homophobia specifically refers to prejudice, negative attitudes, or hostility toward homosexuality. It is not determined by your level of active support. I hope this clarification helps.

Men's football has an LGBTQ+ problem. Too many people are excluded from enjoying it. But we can solve it. And here's the first step. This week, on Out and Out Football, we're launching a survey for LGBTQ+ people to share their experiences on football. The first step in working out how to solve a problem is properly understanding the problem. By taking part in the short survey, you'll be playing a fundamental part in changing football. So to any LGBTQ+ people in my network – whether you're into football or not – will you have your say by taking part in the survey now? https://lnkd.in/exwBDpUE

As the Olympics approach and the world gathers to watch athletes represent their countries, we reflect on how many LGBTQ+ athletes face additional challenges. While the USWNT is full of soccer players who are out, not all sports have been accepting of individuals' identities. Last week, Campbell Harrison became the first out LGBTQ sport climber to qualify for the Olympics. He finished what should have been a joyful victory and kissed his partner, only to be bombarded with homophobic slurs. While 70% of Americans support marriage equality, including nearly half of Republicans (Citation: Human Rights Campaign), Harrison faced extreme backlash and commentary. This is compounded by the banning of transgender athletes such as CeCé Telfer and Lia Thomas from competing in their gender identity categories. USA Track and Field, World Athletics, and World Aquatics have created trans-exclusionary policies. Even if athletes overcome the policies designed to keep them from competition, personal hurdles and online harassment make it difficult to focus and compete. If the spirit of the Olympics is to “build a better world through sport,” how do we expect to do so if we are excluding people from that vision? #LGBTQ #Olympics #Pride #Inclusion #DEI

The Vancouver Dyke March's choice of Queers Against Israeli Apartheid and Queer Collective for Palestine as Grand Marshals is a serious misstep. These groups promote baseless anti-Israel propaganda, accusing Israel of "pinkwashing" while ignoring the fact that Israel is the only country in the Middle East where it is legal to be LGBTQ+. The name "Queer Collective for Palestine" is especially ironic given these harsh realities. The Vancouver Dyke March’s website omits these issues, revealing a biased agenda. Elevating these groups alienates Jewish LGBTQ+ members and turns a celebration of diversity into a divisive event. Pride should unite, not divide. The Dyke March, to uphold the true spirit of Pride, must reconsider this decision. Pride must remain an event where everyone feels safe and valued. We urge all fair-minded individuals to condemn this divisive agenda and stand for an inclusive Pride. #PridewithoutPrejudice #DykeMarch #Antisemitism

Image Description for the blind and visuallyimpaired: Background has vertical rainbow colors, white cursive lettering on top reads "We Stand United in the fight for INCLUSION". The word "inclusion" is in rainbow colors.

🌈 Pride Round 2024 🌈 Hockey ACT 2024 Pride Ambassador. Please join us in welcoming our CEO - Rob Sheekey Hockey ACT Ambassadors publicly display their support for people of diverse sexualities, sex, or gender identities, and are an integral part in making Hockey ACT a safe and welcoming environment free of harassment or discrimination. The Role of an Ally/Ambassador: - Contribute to improving education and awareness of the LGBTQ+ community. - Provide a comfortable and confidential environment for people to discuss matters related to sexual diversity and sex or gender identity. - Work on expanding their understanding of LGBTIQA+ communities and the nature and impact of discrimination experienced by LGBTIQA+ people. - Role models and shows leadership by publicly supporting sexual, sex and gender diversity within the community. - Contribute to stamping out prejudice-related harassment. (*Allies are not expected to be experts or to take on a counselling role but have access to resources to refer to appropriate services.) #HockeyACT #PrideRound

Some good news as we head into the final weekend of Pride month: Funders for LGBTQ Issues has reported that Tides Foundation is the fifth-largest funder of LGBTQ issues in the United States! We're also the 4th-largest funder of LGBTQ issues by number of grants. Other takeaways from Funders for LGBTQ Issues' report: ➡️ Funding for trans communities from foundations increased by 34%, a result of strategic philanthropic organizing efforts that ramped up in response to a surge in legal and policy attacks on trans lives. ➡️ For the first time, a majority of grants from U.S. foundations were general operating support grants—vital for ensuring that LGBTQ organizations can function sustainably in the long term. ➡️ Funding to Black LGBTQ communities doubled from 7% to 14%, although total overall funding for LGBTQ communities of color decreased. Read the full report from Funders for LGBTQ Issues here: https://lnkd.in/e5CrbVut

At Modern Military, we know our community is rattled by today's flurry of reporting about a potential impending ban on transgender service. This Military.com com article is just one of many you might have come across: https://lnkd.in/eAh97HZK. We want to reassure everyone that there is not yet any public evidence, policy, or decision from the incoming administration. At this point, this is speculative, and nothing is certain or definitive. That said, we are concerned that another ban remains a possibility, and we deeply understand the fear and uncertainty this incites for so many service members and their loved ones. In the mean time, please read our open letter that covers ways the LGBTQ+ community can prepare in the coming months: https://lnkd.in/e6yb8G3J. We will keep our community updated with any new developments.