Championing Inclusion and Safe Spaces in Sport This Pride Month
OTTAWA/GATINEAU – June 2, 2025 – As Pride Month kicks off, Pride Capital Volleyball, a dedicated 2SLGBTQ+ volleyball organization in the National Capital Region, today issued a passionate call for greater inclusion and the unequivocal importance of safe, welcoming spaces for all queer individuals in sports. This comes at a time when the discourse surrounding participation in sport, particularly for transgender athletes, highlights the urgent need for understanding, acceptance, and evidence-based policies.
The joy, community, and well-being derived from participating in sports are universal rights. For the 2SLGBTQ+ community, access to inclusive sports is crucial for both physical and mental health, fostering a sense of belonging and significantly improving social support and community connection. Research consistently shows that participation in 2SLGBTQ+ recreational sports is linked to improved mental health outcomes and a stronger sense of community. But these positive inclusive sport outcomes are for every league and sports organization.
The implementation of exclusionary policies in various jurisdictions, has a detrimental impact on transgender and gender-diverse individuals. These policies, often based on misinformation rather than scientific evidence, create significant barriers to participation and contribute to exclusion and discrimination. The Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport, for instance, has published reviews indicating a lack of inherent athletic advantage for transgender women when policies are evidence-based.
"There's just no room for exclusion and discrimination in sport," says Mark Frankish, President at Pride Capital Volleyball. "Sport should be a place where everyone feels they belong and can be their authentic selves without fear of judgment or discrimination. The recent wave of policies targeting transgender people, particularly trans women and youth, is deeply concerning and goes against the very spirit of fair play and camaraderie that sport should embody."
Creating and maintaining safe and welcoming spaces is paramount. This means more than just allowing participation; it involves actively fostering an environment where 2SLGBTQ+ athletes feel valued, respected, and supported. This includes using inclusive language, implementing clear non-discrimination policies and promoting visibility. Organizations like Canadian Women & Sport and the LGBTQI2S+ Sport Inclusion Task Force advocate for such evidence-based inclusive practices.
"Pride Capital Volleyball only exists because there is so much desire to be a part of a community that shares these values," adds Dean Dewar, Chair of the Board of Directors at Pride Capital Volleyball. "In our organization, we see firsthand the power of a supportive community. It allows individuals to not only enjoy the sport they love but to also build confidence, forge friendships, and improve their overall well-being. This Pride Month, we reaffirm our commitment to being such a space and urge all sporting organizations to review their policies and practices to drive greater inclusivity."
Pride Capital Volleyball calls on sporting bodies at all levels to:
Educate themselves on the realities and rights of 2SLGBTQ+ individuals, particularly transgender and gender-diverse people.
Adopt and enforce inclusive policies based on principles of fairness, respect, and non-discrimination, in line with guidance from organizations like the Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport and Athletics Canada.
Actively challenge transphobia and homophobia within their ranks and in the wider sporting community.
Celebrate and promote the participation of 2SLGBTQ+ individuals in sport.
This June, and every month, Pride Capital Volleyball celebrates the diversity of its members and the strength of the 2SLGBTQ+ community. We invite everyone to join us in advocating for a sporting world where everyone can play.
Support queer space in Ottawa! Join us this June and donate to Kind Space, a 2SLGBTQ+ community centre in Ottawa, offering resources, events, social educational programming that celebrates, supports and prioritizes oppressed sexual orientations, gender identities and expressions. Donate at: https://www.zeffy.com/en-CA/peer-to-peer/summer-slam-fundraising-tournament-for-kind-space
About Pride Capital Volleyball: Pride Capital Volleyball is a volunteer-run, non-profit volleyball organization that promotes volleyball and the well-being of the 2SLGBTQ+ community of the National Capital Region by offering fun, inclusive, and positive spaces for 2SLGBTQ+ people and allies of all skill levels.
Contact: Mike Price, Director of Communications, communications@pcv-fvc.ca