今日吃瓜

The glorious few weeks that is the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras is a time for community 鈥� in whatever capacity that means to you.听While some feel most at home on the dance floor, others when they鈥檙e taking to the streets to protest, more and more people are connecting with their community and exploring their identity through sport.听

LGBTQIA+ inclusion in sport has never been more important. The Pride In Sport 2025 Index found that queer participants felt less included and have poorer mental wellbeing than their cishet counterparts. Which is why Mardi Gras鈥� hugely increased sport offering this year is so vital.听

鈥淲hat we’re finding is that queer people in sport, when they get to 16, half of them are dropping out,鈥� said Jake Little, the Chair of Lifesavers With Pride.听

Kicking off the 2026 festivities on February 14, Rainbow Beaches brings together dozens of surf lifesaving clubs to celebrate their LGBTQIA+ members and inclusion.

鈥淟ife saving has come a long way,鈥� Little said. 鈥淥ver the past 10 years, there’s just more visible opportunities, and there is more policy, governance and leadership in the space.

鈥淲e really want to encourage people in the LGBTQ+ community to stick [with] it and to stay in lifesaving 鈥� the more people we can have on the beach patrolling, the safer it is for everyone.鈥�

Striving for queer inclusion on the beach is particularly pertinent for trans and gender diverse people. Being able to bring yourself, exactly as you are, to the water and be safe and accepted is something many people take for granted.

Queer bodies in sport have always been a matter of contention, and it鈥檚 something we鈥檝e seen come into sharp focus this last year.

2025 saw the Trump administration issue the 鈥楴o Men In Women鈥檚 Sports鈥� executive order, restricting trans women鈥檚 participation in sport. Official sporting bodies in the UK have barred trans women and girls from playing following last year鈥檚 Supreme Court decision regarding the definition of the word 鈥榳oman鈥�, and trans women in a local Sydney LGBTQIA+ football team were harassed so badly by a prominent TERF that the court ruled it vilification.

However there is one sport that will always remain immune to anti-trans bigotry 鈥� and that is the illustrious world roller derby.

鈥淚t started as a sport for women, and what women do is create great community spaces for people who are marginalised,鈥� said Inner West Roller Derby League President, Rainbow Smash, who goes by Teigan Butchers off the track.听

While other sporting bodies are struggling to accommodate trans people, derby explicitly welcomes them 鈥� they鈥檙e values that the game is built on.听

That鈥檚 on clear display at on March 7, where skaters from across the country travel to showcase their skills and stand with their community.

鈥淚t鈥檚 a big one for us,鈥� says Smash. 鈥淲e鈥檝e got all the Pride flags on display.鈥�

Other events that make up Mardi Gras鈥� phenomenal sport program this year include the , , the , and , even (an introduction to historical fencing) 鈥� and much more.

With so many different sports ready to welcome new LGBTQIA+ recruits, there鈥檚 never been a better time to try something new.听

Who knows 鈥� maybe you鈥檒l find a league of your very own.

You can see the full program by visiting