Celebrating Pride: How Sport for Good programs can create safer spaces for LGBTQIA+ communities
Sport has the power to transform lives. We know this is a bold statement, but research from the WHO, UNICEF, and others shows that sport—beyond its physical benefits—can significantly enhance mental health, improve focus in school, teach valuable skills for the professional world, and much more. Given all these positive effects, it’s distressing that not all communities have equal access to sport.
Especially for many lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, asexual, and other people who do not identify as heterosexual or cisgender (LGBTQIA+), sport has not always been a safe space. According to the American Psychiatric Association (APA), LGBTQIA+ young people are 2-3 times less likely to play sport than their peers. And when they do, the hate and discrimination many LGBTQIA+ people experience often undermine the physical and mental health benefits of sport (according to the Journal of Applied Sport Psychology and the Journal of Gay & Lesbian Mental Health).
However, beyond standard sport structures, there is one space uniquely positioned to support LGBTQIA+ individuals in feeling included, supported, and able to benefit from the many advantages of sport and physical activity: Sport for Good (S4G) programs. S4G programs are about intentionally embedding purpose into sport to create spaces where people can not only play but learn, grow, and heal. When these spaces are designed with an understanding of the realities, needs, and aspirations of LGBTQIA+ individuals and communities, these programs foster inclusive and supportive environments where people can truly thrive and develop a sense of belonging.
We believe that supporting LGBTQIA+ individuals and communities in accessing sport, experiencing joy and well-being, and benefiting from the positive aspects of sport and physical activity is crucial. And that is exactly what many Sport for Good programs and projects are doing.
To celebrate Pride Month, this article highlights the diverse ways Sport for Good initiatives can make a positive impact on LGBTQIA+ communities.
LGBTQIA+ Inclusion in Practice
As part of United by Sport, our program aimed at leveraging sport to fight hate and discrimination, we have partners actively working to create spaces around the world where LGBTQIA+ communities can thrive and find support.
Here, we proudly share more about some of these partners, along with links to our website where you can learn more about their work and our partnerships:
Kick4Life
In Maseru, Lesotho, they work with over 50 LGBTQIA+ young people, opening doors for participants to enjoy sport and explore topics related to sexuality and gender identity. To help create collective change, they are working to bring together community sports organizations from across the African nation that push for LGBTQIA+ rights.
ISF Cambodia
In Phnom Penh, Cambodia, they developed the Kick Out Hate program, working to address the root causes and effects of hate and discrimination that LGBTQIA+ people experience. They help staff and leaders deliver inclusive programs and services. The organization is creating more inclusive educational hubs, where participants have access to informative posters highlighting LGBTQIA+ issues, sexual and reproductive health classes, and counselling.
ISF Cambodia staff taking part in an inspiring LGBTQIA+ inclusion training as part of the Kick Out Hate program, May 2025.
Swinburne University of Technology
In Melbourne, Australia, the university project uses the power of AI to help make community sport in Melbourne more inclusive for everyone, specifically the LGBTQIA+ community. By combining technology, education, and policy, the project works to create a sustainable, systemic, and scalable solution to tackling discrimination in community sport.
The European Non-Governmental Sports Organisation (ENGSO)
Working as a membership-based organization at the European level, they collaborate with national and local grassroots sport organizations across the continent to create inclusive spaces. They work with historically underrepresented groups, including the LGBTQIA+ community, focusing on raising awareness of inequities, conducting research, advocating for inclusive policies, creating platforms for knowledge exchange, and changing narratives.
What these initiatives have in common goes beyond simply creating access to sport — they are intentionally designing programs that lead to real, lasting change for LGBTQIA+ individuals and communities, whether by building confidence, teaching skills, creating safer spaces, or reducing stigma. A growing body of research shows that when sport is inclusive, affirming, and accessible, it becomes a powerful tool for improving the lives of LGBTQIA+ people. Below, we highlight some of the most powerful findings.
Improved Educational and Economic Opportunities
Inclusive sport programs do more than get LGBTQIA+ people active — they can equip individuals with skills that help them succeed in educational and career opportunities. An analysis from GLSEN (a group of US educators supporting LGBTQIA+ students) found that LGBTQIA+ student-athletes had higher academic scores than non-athletes, indicating that confidence and discipline learned from sport can carry over into other areas of life. When it comes to work, Sport for Good programs can help participants gain skills like teamwork, leadership, communication, and time management. Sport for Good is not just about creating more access for LGBTQIA+ young people to play but using sport spaces to equip participants to succeed throughout their lives.
Mental Health and Well-being
LGBTQIA+ people face disproportionately high rates of mental health challenges. As highlighted by the APA, this includes increased risk for anxiety, depression, substance misuse, eating disorders, houselessness, and suicide. Sport for Good initiatives have the unique potential to address these challenges and improve LGBTQIA+ communities' mental health and well-being. The APA found that young people who play sport are associated with better outcomes on virtually all these topics. According to GLSEN, LGBTQIA+ young people who participate in sport report fewer depressive symptoms and greater self-esteem. Research published in Psychology in the Schools discovered that LGBTQIA+ young people who play sport have better well-being and greater school belonging.
Joyful, affirming sport spaces where people can be ‘out’ and their full authentic selves without fear are in themselves healing. When paired with mental -health support, such as counseling, hotlines, and support groups, Sport for Good programs create environments where LGBTQIA+ participants can access help, grow, and thrive. A recent study of LGBTQIA+ sport spaces found that social support and team connectedness can significantly reduce stress and boost the well-being of LGBTQIA+ athletes, suggesting that feeling a part of a team and the broader LGBTQIA+ community boosts resilience. By intentionally creating spaces of belonging, joy, and support, Sport for Good programs improve mental health and well-being and enable LGBTQIA+ participants to build resilience and thrive.
Feeling Seen
Belonging is a fundamental part of being human. An MIT study discovered that the part of our brain triggered when we crave social interactions is the same spot activated when we crave food. The Mayo Clinic reports that belonging is intrinsically linked to physical and mental health. It might be surprising that sport, a space that has historically excluded many LGBTQIA+ people, can become a place where everyone, regardless of their background or identity, can thrive.
Uniting and celebrating communities through sport
By bringing together LGBTQIA+ participants with allies and the broader community, Sport for Good spaces foster understanding and build meaningful connections. These programs encourage participants to see and support one another as equals, not through assumptions or stereotypes. At their core, these initiatives are about creating team cultures where everyone feels accepted, seen, and valued for who they are.
As we celebrate Pride Month, let us remember the power of sport not just to play, but to connect, uplift, and transform lives. Thanks to the work of great Sport for Good initiatives, safer, inclusive spaces are being built where LGBTQIA+ individuals don’t just find opportunities to play — they find opportunities to connect, heal, and belong.