International Lesbian Day celebrates lesbian culture and visibility on the 8th of October every year. It’s a day to be shared by out women and allies of lesbian rights.
Sport often sees more out women than men, however this doesn’t mean those women (cis and trans) who identify as lesbian/gay/queer are excluded from experiencing bullying, harassment, and negative stigma in sport and recreation.
Join Pride in Sport for this special event as a part of International Lesbian Day on Thursday 7 October 2021. We will hear of the lived experiences faced by out women in sport, and initiatives that sporting bodies can adopt to make their activities and competitions more inclusive for all people.
This event will provide some insights into disparities experience by out women in sport, through the results of the 2021 PSI National Survey and related research, presented by Beau Newell (National Program Manager, Pride in Sport).
PANEL HOST
This panel discussion will be hosted by renowned journalist Mon Schafter (she/they). Mon is a Walkley Award-winning journalist and presenter who’s worked across ABC TV’s 7.30 and Hungry Beast and is the editor of ABCQueer – the ABC’s social media project aimed at young LGBTQIA+ Australians. Mon is also a Board Director of Twenty10, a non-profit organisation that supports young LGBTQIA+ people in NSW. In 2020 Mon was celebrated as one of Australia’s Outstanding 50 LGBTQI+ Leaders in a report by Deloitte and Google, and was the proud recipient of the Positive Media Award at the 2020 Australian Pride in Sport Awards.
We will hear from amazing out women across the Australian sporting industry. These include:
Moya Dodd (she/her) Moya is a former vice-captain of Australia’s women’s football team, the Matildas. She was one of the first women on FIFA’s Executive Committee (2013-2016) and on the board of Football Federation Australia (2007 – 2017). In FIFA, Moya took a lead role on gender reforms and became the driving force in the recent push for women within FIFA.
Sharni Williams (she/her) Sharni made her international debut in 2008 with the Rugby 15s, and went on to play at the 2010 Rugby Women’s World Cup in England, claiming the bronze medal. Williams made her Olympic debut at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, where she was named co-captain of the Australian rugby sevens team. A mechanic by trade, Sharni Williams was a well-oiled machine as she led the Australian women’s team at the 2021 Olympic Games in Tokyo.
Rowie Webster (she/her) Rowie Webster is a Triple Olympian and current captain of the Australian Women’s Water Polo team, the Stingers. Rowie is an Olympic Bronze medallist from the 2012 London Olympics and for several years has been named one of the top three women’s water polo players in the world. As one of three players in the history of Australian water polo to reach 300+ international games, Rowie has just returned from Captaining the Aussie Stingers at the Tokyo Olympic games.