With June comes heat and Pride parades across the globe, so I thought it might be productive to compare and contrast Queen’s attempts at engaging with Pride, and promoting itself as an inviting and accepting place for students and athletes of all identities to study and compete under the Gael brand.
As it currently stands, there are a number of events Queen’s hosts during the month of June to commemorate and Pride initiatives on campus. The only one related to sport are cycle classes hosted at the Athletics and Recreation Centre (ARC) every Monday of June.
During the academic school year, the ARC hosts solidarity swims to LGTBQ+ identities who are looking for a safe, comfortable space to swim, and serving as a space to meet other of the LGBTQ+ community.
Although June is Pride month, it would be nice if Queen’s showed their acceptance and empowerment of LGBTQ+ of the community year-round, at games, and events.
Professional sports leagues such as the National Hockey League (NHL) and Canadian Football League (CFL) have their own Pride events held throughout the year.
The CFL has a number of works published regarding Pride as part of their Diversity Is Strength (DIS) initiative aimed at deconstructing homophobic stereotypes that serve as barriers keeping of the LGBTQIA+ community away from sport.
Whether it be deg jerseys, t-shirts, or towels, small acts of go a long way in transforming Queen’s into a destination where LGBTQ+ students and athletes can commit to, and be assured their identity is not just acknowledged but appreciated.
The York University Lions hosted a Pride Game on Nov. 9 and 10 during OUA Pride Week this past year led by Bayne Pettinger, the first openly gay NHL agent and a long-time member of Hockey Canada. The Lions hosted a keynote session prior to their game against the Toronto Varsity Blues.
The University of British Columbia also hosted a Pride Night this past Feb. 2 where students and community of all backgrounds gathered as allies of the LGBTQ+ community to their Men’s and Women’s volleyball teams.
Events like this are extremely productive in breaking down the barriers that often restrict of the LGBTQ+ community from engaging in sports in a comfortable manner.
Communications of like this would be extremely beneficial to Queen’s commitment to diversity and equity within sports and would help assert itself as an attractive destination where student-athletes can feel comfortable.
While I do believe the LGBTQ+ community is widely accepted at Queen’s and Queen’s as an institution has done well in combatting homophobia on campus by strictly prohibiting any form of hate speech, especially related to homophobia, there’s a significant opportunity to promote a more inclusive environment within both recreational and competitive sports at Queen’s.
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