Pride House to help Birmingham Commonwealth Games put spotlight on LGBTQ+ issues

Pride House Birmingham will kick start two-and-a-half weeks of inclusive action on Friday as it aims to ensure “challenging and difficult conversations” take place in a safe space at the Commonwealth Games.

The hub is located in the heart of Birmingham’s Gay Village at Wynner House, only 100 yards from the Smithfield site which will host beach volleyball, basketball and wheelchair basketball.

Its doors will open this week, with a number of LGBTQ+ events lined up each day. Entry will be free and visitors are due to include competing athletes, fans, staff and volunteers.

Friday will see a panel discuss trans inclusion in grassroots sport before DJ sets occur in the evening to mark its opening, with activities, performances, screenings and entertainment running until the final day of the Commonwealth Games on August 8.

Pride House ambassador Amazin LeThi told the PA news agency: “Having a Pride House is so important for LGBTQ+ athletes.

“We do need our own safe space to champion equality where LGBTQ+ athletes feel is a place for them to be safe but also to have these challenging and difficult conversations where we can bring different communities together.

“It is a great time through sport to bring everyone together to have these conversations.

“Trans inclusion is the last frontier. We have seen what has happened in the US – and even in the UK – around Lia Thomas and now swimming has said trans women cannot compete at an elite level against other women, so I think it is really important we start Pride House with trans inclusion in sport to keep it constantly at the top of minds.”

This year’s Commonwealth Games are the first to fully integrate Pride House, which will help make sure the message of ‘celebrate, participate,