Back row: Steve Hocking, Sarah Albon, Mel Martinelli. Middle row: Prof. Iain Martin, Hero McDonald, Monee Poole (DUSA), Lisa Loney. Front row: Kate Darby, Tom Atkins, Jimmy Buck, Gab Tyacke and Gill Rea (Cats Pride supporter)

The Geelong Football Club and Deakin University are partnering to celebrate International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia, Interphobia & Transphobia (IDAHOBIT) on 17th May 2022.

The day marks the anniversary of the World Health Organisation’s removal of the classification of homosexuality as a mental disorder in 1990 and celebrates LGBTQIA+ people globally.

Deakin, alongside the Deakin University Student Association (DUSA) recently announced it’s membership with Pride in Sport who are a national not-for-profit sporting inclusion program, specifically designed to assist sporting organisations at all levels with inclusion of employees, athletes, coaches, volunteers and spectators with diverse sexualities and genders.

Joining Pride in Sport is a key step for Deakin to ensure that all people have the right to freely participate in sport through the implementation of inclusive practices to ensure the safe and equal inclusion of LGBTQIA+ identifying people.

“Here at Deakin University, we support and welcome people from our LGBTQIA+ community and proudly make a commitment to inclusion and acceptance” Vice Chancellor Professor Iain Martin said.

“We are proud to work together with students and staff to create an open and accepting experience for the LGBTQIA+ community both on and off campus”.

Last year, Deakin also launched the Pride Stairs at all four campuses to celebrate Deakin’s commitment to inclusion and creating a stronger sense of belonging on campus.

The Geelong Cats have worked alongside the LGBTQIA+ community for a number of years, with our women’s team wearing the first ever AFLW Pride Guernsey providing a powerful message of inclusion and acceptance.

This year, the Geelong Cats men’s and women’s players demonstrated their support by wearing rainbow socks during training, participating in education sessions and hosting their first home AFLW Pride match. The players and staff will again show the same support at training and through education sessions aligned with IDAHOBIT day. 

As the first AFL club to partner with Proud 2 Play, the Geelong Cats are currently working with the organisation to develop their Rainbow roadmap. 

“We understand the important role it plays in creating safe, inclusive and welcoming environments as a workplace, club and sport” says Steve Hocking, Geelong Cats chief executive.

“Days like today are an opportunity to not only welcome and celebrate the LGBTQIA+ communities contribution, but also recognise there is still more work that needs to be done”.