Racing With Pride Launched

Racing With Pride, the LGBT+ network for British racing, was launched by the Diversity in Racing Steering Group (DiRSG), the British Horseracing Authority announced on Monday. The network is designed for British racing's industry members and fans who identify as lesbian, gay, bi, trans and other sexual orientations and gender identities (LGBT+) as well as allies of the LGBT+ community who want to demonstrate their support, regardless of their own identity. The goals of Racing With Pride is as follows:

• Support: offer a safe space for LGBT+ people and allies to meet, receive support, have fun and enjoy racing online and in person.
• Awareness: promote a better understanding of LGBT+ inclusion to ensure racing is everyone's sport, encouraging all to step up as allies.
• Engagement: provide a platform for the sport's LGBT+ community to have a collective voice in shaping the industry's future LGBT+ activity.

Racing With Pride will be based primarily on social media through a secure Facebook group and updates on upcoming activities will also be available through the Racing With Pride Twitter account. For more information, please go to www.britishhorseracing.com.

“Given the recent coronavirus pandemic, many of us have experienced increased feelings of isolation and loneliness over the past few months, and research shows that these feelings and associated mental health issues are heightened within the LGBT+ community,” said British Horseracing Authority Head of Diversity and Inclusion Rose Grissell. “We recognise this additional vulnerability and believe now is the right time to ensure racing's LGBT+ participants and fans feel included and valued.

“Racing With Pride has been developed following recent research in the sport which indicated many individuals who identified as a sexual minority did not feel comfortable 'coming out' at work, despite largely positive attitudes towards sexual minority individuals throughout the sport.

“We hope to create a fun and fully inclusive community by providing a safe space for members to come together and share their experiences and to show that British racing understands the need for everyone involved in the industry to feel welcome.”