Participating in sports and physical activity can offer social connection and belonging, improvements in academic performance and skill building, as well as greater overall mental, emotional, and physical wellbeing. These benefits are not equally available to everyone in Aotearoa.
Some rainbow people, especially transgender and intersex people, are excluded from sports based on judgements about their gender or body. In the Counting Ourselves study of trans and non-binary people, one in five respondents who were interested in playing competitive sports had been told they could only participate based on their sex assigned at birth, and 5% had been told to have hormone treatment before they would be allowed to play.
Others might avoid getting involved in sports because of fears about discrimination or violence, a lack of safe places to get changed, or their own negative experiences with school sports and physical education. Public debates about trans and intersex people’s participation in sports, based in misinformation and fear, create an climate where people expect to be harassed or treated with hostility.
We’ve shared some resources below for people working to make sports more inclusive for rainbow people.
For decision makers and policy writers
If you’re developing policies or plans to make sports more inclusive, these resources will help you understand the issues and needs for rainbow communities:
Local data and research:
Counting Ourselves (which surveyed trans and non-binary people aged 14 to 83) found that only 14% of participants were involved in any sporting events, competitions or organised activities in the last four weeks, just over half the rate of the general population (26%). Disabled trans participants were even less likely (8%). The community report also includes findings about school sports.
The Identify survey (looking at the experiences of rainbow young people aged between 14 and 26) includes data about young people’s participation in sports and PE in its community and advocacy report.
The Manalagi report includes data about Pacific rainbow people’s participation in (and exclusion from) Pacific-led and rainbow-led sports activities.
The Youth19 study of secondary school students asked questions about sports participation, as well as sexuality and gender identity. Its reports on sexual attraction and gender identity found that trans students, and same & multiple sex attracted students, were significantly less likely to be involved with a sports team or group than their cis-heterosexual peers.
Stats NZ’s General Social Survey asks questions about participation in group and individual sports and other active recreation. Their 2021 wellbeing statistics included data about LGBT+ populations, showing that they were less likely to participate in sports and recreation compared with the rest of the population.
In the Growing Up In New Zealand study, trans and non-binary 12 year-olds reported the lowest level of sport participation of all groups.
The Joyful Movement kaupapa “is focused on creating opportunities for more Rainbow young people in Tāmaki Makaurau to participate in movement and fitness opportunities that bring them joy.” Their report shares insights about barriers and enablers for rainbow young people’s participation in sports and physical recreation.
Out on the Fields is a major international study about homophobia and transphobia in sport, that includes New Zealand findings about lesbian, gay and bisexual people.
Advocacy
Our submission on the Integrity Sport and Recreation Bill shared our views on the definition of rainbow communities provided in the Bill. The final Act used the language we suggested in the Bill, and included additional requirements for rainbow representation in the new agency.
Policy statements
UN Joint Statement: Participation in Sports by LGBT & Intersex Persons
For people running sports teams or working with rainbow people
If you manage a sports team, or have a role in supporting rainbow people to participate in sports, some of the things you should consider are:
team culture - how you can visibly support rainbow people, and address any bullying, discrimination, violence or negative speech that comes up.
safe and inclusive changing spaces - having private, safe and dignified places for people to get changed (not just a toilet stall) where trans, intersex and gender non-confirming people are not harassed.
inclusive uniforms and clothing - giving people choices about what they wear, and not restricting their options based on gender.
inclusive policies - making clear statements about how your team includes rainbow people and addresses hostility.
Some guidelines and resources providing further advice:
Sports NZ has published guiding principles for the inclusion of transgender people in community sport and three online learning modules about rainbow inclusion
Making It Easier for Rainbow Rangatahi to Play Sport, a video resource from InsideOUT
InsideOUT’s Creating rainbow-inclusive school policies and procedures guide includes a chapter about physical education and school sports
Gender Minorities Aotearoa has a collection of resources on inclusive sports
For rainbow people and their whānau
If you’re looking for ways to get involved with sports, or need support around discrimination, here are some resources:
Rainbow Games is an inclusive sports event being held in Auckland in 2024
The Human Rights Commission has guidance on the question: “Can I play in a sports team or participate in sport as my affirmed gender?”
InsideOUT’s resource Legal Rights at School includes guidance about school sports and PE
Transhub has advice for trans people about getting involved in sports (note that this is an Australian website so some resources and legal advice might not be relevant in Aotearoa)