RECOGNITION OF LGBT ROLE MODELS

How much fun was last Saturday night?  Only 12 years ago Surf Life Savers were marching for the first time with a reluctant organisation allowing us to march in our first ever parade.  And only a week ago, the CEO of Surf Life Saving Australia Melissa King called us to wish us luck, the first time the CEO has ever contacted us directly, and the CEO of Surf Life Saving New South Wales came to our rehearsal to wish us luck, and followed that up by actually joining us in the parade.  It's only through the likes of committed individuals that we've got this far.

Diversity in Sport is a national organisation that promotes LGBT within Australia's sporting organisations, and LWP has been working with them of late to ensure that Surf Life Saving takes a more inclusive and diverse positions with its members.  They also produce Pride Inclusion Programs, and run the Pride in Sport Diversity Index (which LWP is still trying to get SLSA to participate in).  Within this are the annual Individual awards for Role Models for the LGBT community.

The following categories are open for nomination for the calendar year 2017;

• Ally Award
• Community Sporting Group Award
• Inclusion Initiative Award
• Coach Award
• Out Role Model Award, and
• Small Club Award

It's invaluable that we acknowledge the commitment and dedication of our role models, no matter what their sexuality, to demonstrate to our newer members that we truly value a diverse and inclusive organisation.  If you know anyone suitable for nominating both current or former members of the lifesaving community, feel free to get in touch with the committee, or even nominate them yourself.  

http://www.prideindiversity.com.au/PSI/

Applications should be submitted by next Friday 16 March

Gary and the Committee