Gay Village welcomes Pride House, a safe space for Birmingham2022 athletes – Birmingham Live
In its goal to be the most inclusive sporting event in history Birmingham 2022 has officially opened Pride House, a safe space for LGBTIQ+ athletes during the games. Located in the Gay Village above The Loft Bar & Kitchen, it is one of four Pride Houses across Birmingham including others at The University of Birmingham, The University of Warwick and The NEC Hotel Campus.
Pride House launched in 2021 with the goal of championing LGBTIQ+ inclusion, diversity and culture at major sporting events. Their presence is all the more significant as 35 out of 54 sovereign states still criminalise homosexuality.
Gay Village’s Pride House will open tonight and throughout the games from 10am every day. It features a cafe, bar area, lounge, games room, gender neutral toilets and open spaces for discussions and panels on sports and inclusivity.
(Image: Husna Anjum)
Attendees can watch the games on big screens. and although the official launch event begins tonight, Friday July 22, at 6-8pm, media got a sneak peek of the venue along with Pride House founders, councillors and even Jamaica’s first openly gay athlete, Michael Gunning.
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Sporting a rainbow shirt perfectly appropriate for the event, Gunning was proud of the venue saying: “This is just the start, I feel like athletes will come and feel accepted and it will be a really nice space for them. Pride is all about celebrating your identity and differences, we are uniting people together and it gives me goose bumps.
“More people are having these conversations, in the other room there is art work from schools so already that generation is coming around and leading that legacy. It (coming out) was a very daunting experience as I was worried about how I would be perceived but ultimately sport is very inclusive.
(Image: Husna Anjum)
“No one should feel isolated or change who they are to play the sport they love. I just want that for other athletes and Pride House is that safe space for them.”
The inspiration for Pride House came from traditional Olympic Houses which were built around a specific country during Olympic games. Canada or The Netherlands would have their own houses and feel at home even when abroad. Officials realised there was no house to make LGBTIQ+ athletes feel welcome. This gave birth to Pride House.
Everyone involved in the Commonwealth Games from athletes to volunteers and even the public are welcome for free, trained volunteers will also be available at village stations to talk to athletes and support staff about the Pride House programme.
(Image: Husna Anjum)
Neil Basterfield 55, Pride House Birmingham co-founder said: “Our legacy concept is building an organisation that will support inclusion in sport and physical activity across the Midlands for the LGBTIQ+ community. That is important because a lot of people feel there are barriers to sport particularly trans people.
“We want to grow LGBTQI+ organisations and help existing sports organisations be more inclusive.”
Visit the Pride House website for further events in the coming days.
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