Racing With Pride Launches Official LGBT+ Network

News | 7^th September 2020

Today, Racing With Pride, the official LGBT+ network for British racing has been launched by the sport’s Diversity in Racing Steering Group (DiRSG).

The network is designed for British racing’s participants, workforce and fans who identify as lesbian, gay, bi, trans and other sexual orientations and gender identities (LGBT+) as well as allies of the LGBT+ community who want to demonstrate their support, regardless of their own identity.

The aim of this network:

Support: offer a safe space for LGBT+ people and allies to meet, receive support, have fun and enjoy racing online and in person.
Awareness: promote a better understanding of LGBT+ inclusion to ensure racing is everyone’s sport, encouraging all to step up as allies.
Engagement: provide a platform for the sport’s LGBT+ community to have a collective voice in shaping the industry’s future LGBT+ activity.

Anyone interested in joining, can search for ‘Racing With Pride’ on Facebook. The closed group will act as a safe space to come together, listen, learn and interact, and in time, the network hopes to run a range of events.

Clare Balding
“Racing is trying hard to embrace a wider audience and to make its own diverse work force feel confident and comfortable. This platform is a welcome innovation and I hope will encourage more LGBT+ people already in racing to feel appreciated and supported. As for those who have yet to discover the beauty of racehorses and the fun of a race day, I look forward to when we can celebrate with the first Pride Racing Festival which will no doubt have a carnival atmosphere!”

Rose Grissell, Head of Diversity and Inclusion at the British Horseracing Authority, said:

“Given the recent coronavirus pandemic, many of us have experienced increased feelings of isolation and loneliness over the past few months, and research shows that these feelings and associated mental health issues are heightened within the LGBT+ community.

“We recognise this additional vulnerability and believe now is the right time to ensure racing’s LGBT+ participants and fans feel included and valued.

“Racing With Pride has been developed following recent research in the sport which indicated many individuals who identified as a sexual minority did not feel comfortable ‘coming out’ at work, despite largely positive attitudes towards sexual minority individuals throughout the sport.

“We hope to create a fun and fully inclusive community by providing a safe space for members to come together and share their experiences and to show that British racing understands the need for everyone involved in the industry to feel welcome.”

You can follow all Racing With Pride news through their twitter handle @RacingWithPride.