A Melbourne Renegades Pride Harmony Day featuring family-friendly cricket that promotes inclusion will be held in Altona as part of GOWEST events for the Midsumma Festival.
The day will be hosted by Melbourne Renegades, Cricket Victoria and Proud2Play, and is one of seven GOWEST events scheduled for Melbourne’s west between January 15 and February 4.
James Lolicato, co-founder of the Proud2Play charity, said young people from the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex and queer (LGBTIQ) community were often excluded from sports.
“We want to promote the diversity that Hobsons Bay has to offer and use sport as a tool for inclusion,” he said. “What we find is that 78 per cent of young LGBTI people feel that sport, and in particular PE (physical eduction), is not a safe environment for them.
“This might be because of overt or subtle homophobia, or transphobia or biphobia, that they find in a PE class.
“So, of course, if you’re in a safe environment, such as school, and you go into PE class, and you’re hearing these things said in PE, you’re never going to get into sport at an older age because you just don’t feel comfortable.”
The cricket day is on January 21 from 1-5pm at JK Grant Reserve in Sugargum Drive, Altona.
Hobsons Bay councillor Tony Briffa, who was the world’s first intersex mayor, said it was the eighth year of Midsumma in the west.
“Hobsons Bay is proud to continue its long-standing partnership with the GLBTIQ community and Melbourne’s western region councils to host GOWEST,” Cr Briffa said.
“This festival, which is now in its eighth year, is a celebration of diversity and culture, which brings the spirit of Midsumma to the western suburbs
“This is an inclusive event with a program of activities to suit all ages and interests,” Cr Briffa said.
Other events include an exhibition, live music, ghost tours, authors’ talks and storytelling.
For more information, go online at www.hobsonsbay.vic.gov.au/gowest
