Plans for the advancement of LGBTQ+ participation in cricket continue to accelerate in 2023, off the back of a year in which almost 70 people from across England and Wales gathered at Edgbaston for the first ever .
Organised by Lachlan Smith (chairperson, Birmingham Unicorns CC) and Leo Skyner (chairperson, Graces CC), with support from both Warwickshire CCC and Middlesex CCC, the event proved a huge success.
The work of Leo and Lachlan is part of a game-wide effort to improve cricket鈥檚 ability to be welcoming to and inclusive of the LGBTQ+ community. The 黑料专区 are forming an LGBTQ+ Community in Cricket Employee Engagement group, and have also been working with Proud Surrey and Pride in Cricket 鈥� with whom they ran Rainbow Laces in 2022 and marched at Pride in London.
鈥淭he amount of work Lachlan and Leo did to pull together a really thorough agenda and secure the variety of speakers they did, and what they鈥檙e offering to do in a completely voluntary perspective, is absolutely incredible,鈥� said Laura Entwistle, head of strategy and governance at Warwickshire CCC.
鈥淚t was such an emotional event and what they鈥檙e doing for cricket, and how they鈥檙e making it a more inclusive sport, is amazing. They鈥檙e having an incredible impact on people鈥檚 lives and on cricket as a whole.鈥�
Skyner and Smith, who sits on the Warwickshire CCC Members鈥� Committee, first came up with the idea of the conference many months ago. Their concept naturally aligned with Warwickshire CCC鈥檚 EDI strategy and a longstanding relationship between Warwickshire, Skyner and Smith helped to turn the plans into reality.
鈥淭he whole purpose of the conference was to benefit the game, bring everyone together and have those meaningful conversations that revolve around sharing best practice,鈥� says Entwistle.
鈥淲e felt we could facilitate something from a practical point of view by gifting the use of the room and hosting event registrations on our website, and both ourselves and Middlesex CCC split the other costs of the event.鈥�
During the day, a series of presentations and discussions took place about developing and supporting the LGBTQ+ community in cricket. The morning sessions included a Q&A on growing engagement and participation, while the afternoon featured a trans, non-binary and intersex panel discussion as well advice and tips on strengthening inclusion at cricket clubs of all levels.
Smith and Skyner are now working on plans for the next LGBTQ+ Inclusion in Cricket Conference and more activity is planned with Warwickshire CCC, including:
- A second coaching masterclass at Edgbaston for Birmingham Unicorns players with WCCC coaches
- A potential Birmingham-based 6-a-sde LGBTQ+ tournament to coincide with Pride month
- A fixture at Lapworth CC, home of the Unicorns, featuring WCCC male and female players
Warwickshire Cricket Board has also pledged continued funding and development support of Unicorns鈥� officials, volunteers and coaches, as well as offering to facilitate a local data capture on LGBTQ+ inclusion that can be used as the foundations of targeted club development support.
Laura Entwistle added: 鈥淟achlan and Leo are so passionate about providing opportunities for people from the LGBTQ+ community to play cricket in a safe environment. We are incredibly proud to support them and look forward to continuing our work together.鈥�