UWA Maali teams have shown their colours and championed a cause that goes beyond trophies with the inaugural Pride Panel hosted by UWA Sport on Thursday 2 May.
UWA Sport have made the most of the UBL Pride Round and taken the opportunity to increase visibility and provide education and awareness to student athletes, staff and supporters. The event harnessed the power of sport as a platform for promoting LGBTQIA+ inclusion. The Pride Panel session features carefully selected panellists who shared lived experiences and offered valuable insights into the importance of LGBTQIA+ inclusion, connection, visibility and engagement in both sporting and university contexts.
The panellist included Mark Fallows, Club Leader of Perth Spectres Basketball Club, UWA Maali Co-Captain Jenna Teasdale, and Zee Schorsch, UWA Sport Inclusion Coordinator. Each panellist drew upon personal and community experiences to highlight the importance of empowering the LGBTQIA+ community, the significance of inclusion and the importance of the removal of barriers to participation.
This inaugural event is one of many initiatives through which UWA Sport embeds inclusive practices as part of its ongoing commitment to development and enhancement of the inclusion of LGBTQIA + people in sport at UWA. The timing of Pride Round is significant, with the International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia (IDAHOBIT) approaching on Friday 17 May.
The panel session was accompanied by a thrilling second helping of Pride Round action, with UWA Maali taking on the University of Sunshine Coast at home. It was a tale of two stories with UWA Maali men’s playing to secure a top 8 finish in the season, while the women were chasing their first win in their final match.
Despite the close contest, the UWA Maali women remained winless this season after another disappointing loss. The UWA Maali men were able to provide retribution with a narrow win over the east coast team. In a game riddled with errors and inconsistent play, UWA Maali prevailed to snag back-to-back wins at home. The men will shift their focus to the UBL Finals Series, where the team will face La Trobe University in the quarter-finals.
For more information on the UBL competition, visit UniSport and watch replays at UniSport TV. If you are seeking additional support in the space of LGBTQIA + inclusion, follow here to see support services.