A successful and insightful event was held as the LEAP Sports Scotland Conference took place in Stirling Court Hotel on the University of Stirling Campus on October 30, 2024.
LEAP Sports Scotland is an organisation dedicated to improving atmosphere for the LGBTQIA+ community and ensuring comfortability and togetherness within the world of sports.
A huge turnout was seen with tables filled and people even struggling for seats. Those that attended were chatty and eager in regards to the topics surrounding the event and the causes they were there to fight and advocate for.
Opening Speeches
A friendly and welcoming atmosphere was created by staff and leaders as people were there to learn more about the opportunities for the volunteers of the organisation and for what the it can do for both the community and for the individual sports.
Former MP for Livingston (for nine consecutive years) Hannah Bardell gave a welcoming and insightful speech to introduce the conference while saying it was “A huge honour to be here today” as she elicited excitement throughout the attendees
MSP Maree Todd, Minister for Social Care, Wellbeing and Sport, continued this welcoming atmosphere during her opening speech as she exclaimed that: “… there’s not enough seats for us, that’s amazing!”
Todd continued her speech encouraging the values of the conference as she stated that: “I truly believe that sport and physical activity is for everyone.”
People were entirely and wholly interested and focused on what was said during these speeches.
‘Our Community, our voice – lived experience in Scottish Sport’ Panel
The opening event of the event was the ‘Our Community, our voice – lived experience in Scottish Sport’ panel held by Sports Journalist and creator of Pride of the Terraces (October 2019) Andrew Henderson.
Both positive and negative experiences were shared throughout the panel as a group of current and former athletes were interviewed for their roles in both the sports and LGBTQIA+ communities and how they affected their lives and views of the atmosphere of the worlds combines.
“I segregated my life” – semi-retired rugby player (currently coaching at Caledonian Thebans RFC) Colin Arthur when discussing his sexuality and his love for his sport.
“Growing up getting the hand me down kits from the men’s teams” and “they resented you for being there” – Atlas Martin (player for the Perth Parrots floorball team) when discussing the discouragement and discrimination from others towards the transgender community in sports.
“Just because there aren’t trans people in sports doesn’t mean they don’t want to be.” – founding member and welfare officer for the world’s first and only transgender rugby club; the Transmanian Devils Rueben Jarvis on the want for change for the LGBT community, specifically the trans community in sports.
The inclusive atmosphere of the event was continued throughout the day as more insightful presentations and workshops took place in order to iterate these important messages and values.
The welcoming speeches and the opening event were certainly main and influential highlights of the 2024 LEAP Sport’s Conference as a large and enthusiastic audience was created through a warming and inclusive atmosphere.
Featured image credit: Erin Schoolar
