By Mrinal Asija, current Master of Management (Marketing) student
"Everyone should feel comfortable in whatever skin they're in, whoever they want to be, whoever they want to love. I think sometimes the world could be a little bit nicer to one another and this is just one way of showing we stand with everyone inside and outside of the community."
The captain of the Matilda's and one of the top forwards in world soccer, Sam Kerr, who also happens to be a proud gay woman, shared this message after Australia donned a jersey with rainbow numbers in their Cup of Nations match against Spain in February this year. The initiative was part of a tie-up with the Sydney World Pride 2023 and came just ahead of the event.
Sports can be a platform to send out a message of inclusion; it would not just benefit people from marginalised communities within sports but help make the whole world a better place for everyone. After all, there cannot be a more powerful force than sport to bring people together.
Melbourne University Sport will host several events to acknowledge and celebrate the diverse identities within the sporting community during Pride in Sport week from 10 May to 20 May, including international IDAHOBIT day.
The celebrations kicked off on Wednesday with our inaugural Pride Party, where more than 1500 students and staff converged to the Melbourne University Sport precinct. The Pride Party was the perfect opener for the week and was the sight of friendship, love, and community for all attending.
Later the same day, the University of Melbourne’s men's and women's Winged Victory basketball teams claimed resounding victories over Federation University in the national University Basketball League pride round.
Pride in Sport Week will see several university sports clubs host special events, and MU Sport will be running inclusive workshops and classes for dance, fitness, and cycling. The Melbourne University Women's Football Club will ensure that the Pride Week ends with a bang as they host the VAFA Thirds Pride Round game on May 20, followed by a Drag Bingo.
Let’s come together and celebrate a colourful week of sport and, more importantly, remind everyone that sport is for everyone!