Lewis Hamilton, representing Mercedes AMG F1 W14, takes the lead as the race restarts on April 2, 2023. This is during the Formula 1 World Championship, Round 3, at the Australian Grand Prix held in Albert Park, Melbourne, Australia on Race Day.
A group of three organizations, Racing Pride, Prod2Play, and Motorsport Australia, have joined forces to announce an innovative Pride Hub pop-up at this year’s Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix. The Pride Hub is specifically designed to provide a safe and inclusive space for the LGBTQIA+ community at the Albert Park Circuit in Melbourne, Australia. It will be present from media day through race day, which spans from March 21 to March 24.
Throughout its duration at the Australian Grand Prix, the Pride Hub will host discussions and interactive sessions. The aim is not only to celebrate the LGBTQIA+ professionals and community in motorsport but also to educate and inform all attendees about creating a more inclusive environment within the sport. The sessions will focus on championing progress, highlighting the contributions already made by LGBTQIA+ individuals, and promoting a better understanding of how motorsport can be a more welcoming space.
Haydn Lane, the General Manager of Corporate Affairs and ESG at the Australian Grand Prix Corporation, expressed his enthusiasm for collaborating with Racing Pride and Proud2Play to establish a welcoming space for the LGBTQIA+ community at the Albert Park Grand Prix Circuit. He emphasized the importance of not limiting the ambitions and dreams of young people based on their identity, and hopes that the Pride Hub will contribute to making motorsport more inclusive.
Kade Matthews, the Community Engagement Officer at Proud2Play, shared his excitement about the world’s first Pride Hub at a Grand Prix event in his hometown of Melbourne. He highlighted the challenges faced by LGBTQIA+ individuals in sports, with 70% feeling that it is not a safe or welcoming environment, and 50% of LGBTQIA+ athletes not being open about their identity with their peers. The Pride Hub aims to address these issues head-on by facilitating meaningful conversations, educating attendees about the barriers faced by LGBTQIA+ individuals in sports, and celebrating their contributions to motorsport.
By establishing a global standard for LGBTQIA+ inclusion at the Formula 1 Rolex Australian Grand Prix 2024, this initiative takes a small but significant step towards creating safer and more welcoming spaces for everyone in the sporting world. The individuals involved in this pioneering effort take pride in being part of this groundbreaking initiative.
Proud2Play is a registered Australian charity that is dedicated to promoting LGBTQIA+ engagement in sports, exercise, and active recreation.
The Pride Hub represents a shared objective of promoting inclusivity in the realm of sports, specifically in motorsport. This collaboration involves Proud2Play, an organization from Britain, and Racing Pride, which is dedicated to making motorsport a more inclusive environment.
According to Richard Morris, Co-Founder of Racing Pride and Director of Partner Relations, the organization has been advocating for LGBTQIA+ inclusion in motorsport since its inception in 2019. They have been leading important discussions with partners on the Formula One grid and beyond.
The collaboration with local charity Proud2Play, Motorsport Australia, and the Australian Grand Prix Corporation has resulted in the creation of the innovative Pride Hub. This space aims to uplift and unite LGBTQIA+ individuals and allies during the Grand Prix. It also serves as an opportunity for people to learn more about allyship and engage fans in this journey.
Through the Pride Hub, the aim is to demonstrate that LGBTQIA+ individuals have always been a part of and have contributed to the richness of motorsport. With the support of allies, the vibrant LGBTQIA+ community can thrive and continue to be a part of motorsport in the present and future.
Motorsport Australia CEO, Sunil Vohra, expressed excitement about the collaboration with Proud2Play, Racing Pride, and the Australian Grand Prix Corporation. Their joint effort is focused on making the sport diverse, inclusive, safe, and accessible. Whether it’s as a competitor behind the wheel, at a flag point, or in any other role, they are proud supporters of this initiative and want to ensure that everyone who desires to experience the sport can do so.