This Saturday 19th June, at Sydney Uni Oval No.1, SUANFC celebrates its fourth annual Pride Round.
In 2017, SUANFC held its first Pride Round, which was also the first of its kind in the AFL Sydney competition. Josh Cutrupi and Chris Browne were pioneers of the round in 2017, raising $4000 at the time for Beyond Blue. Cutrupi, a player at the time who is now the Mens Division Two Coach (and still a player) believed the round was a vital opportunity to challenge homophobia in sport; “It is still quite prevalent – the language used on the sports field in a derogatory manner, and I think by calling it out we can try help eliminate it in the end.”
This weekend, SUANFC will once again be celebrating the diversity that defines our game and seek to raise continued awareness for LGBTQIA+ issues, including the role we can all play in eliminating homophobia within sport.
This will mark the first Pride Round celebrations for SUANFC as a merged club with both Men’s and Women’s teams under the same banner, and SUANFC President, Sam Power, believes this round marks an extremely important opportunity for the club to continue to help improve attitudes across the code and show support and encouragement for people to be who they are and know they are a player for a club that cares for all its participants.
“Pride Round is of particular importance to the club, we pride ourselves on the values of inclusivity and acceptance, and this round is a fantastic opportunity to highlight that- and hopefully continue to instil those values in the wider sporting community.”
“For SUANFC, Pride Round is not just about the day itself, but also ensuring we continue to provide education to our entire playing, coaching and volunteer group around the issues surrounding the LGBTQIA+ community.”
SUANFC’s Pride Round celebrations will involve a club wide education session on Tuesday 29th June, where players, volunteers, coaches, staff and the wider club community alike will have the opportunity to hear from club members and external speakers to enable everyone to continue to educate themselves and in turn continue to create a more inclusive and welcoming environment for all players and supporters.
Following on from previous years, all teams this weekend will be wearing rainbow socks to show their support, and for the very first time our Men’s and Women’s Premier Division teams will be wearing specially designed Pride guernseys as they battle the Bulldogs at No. 1 Oval on Saturday.
The guernsey to be worn by our Men’s Premier Division side is modelled on our traditional design, the middle blue hoop replaced by a rainbow hoop to symbolize the diversity at the heart of our club. Our Women’s team will be wearing a design chosen by the leaders of the playing group, based on our alternate strip and featuring a rainbow yoke which will be worn by all three teams at stages across the course of the season.
This year, SUANFC Limited Edition Pride Round training t-shirts (available online for collection in the coming weeks) and Pride Round Scarves (available at Oval No.1 on Saturday) will be available for sale, with the profits being donated directly to Camp Out. Camp Out exists to create a space for LGBTQIA+ young people to talk about their experiences, to share knowledge, and to support each other, they believe in working with a community to effect change in that community. Past SUANFC Player and current Camp Out volunteer, Bronte Noakes, is excited that SUANFC will once again be supporting an organisation so close to her heart:
“Every year Camp Out gives 50 LGBTQIA+ teens from all over NSW the opportunity to attend a week long camp, make friends, learn and find their community. Facilitated by queer volunteers of the collective, the young people leave with a sense of pride and belonging, in their identities and in their place in the incredibly diverse and accepting queer community.”
“As an ex-camper and current volunteer for the collective, this experience has changed my life and that of so many others.”
“Pride Round is an important opportunity for SUANFC to show our support for all LGBTQIA+ players, supporters and the wider community. At SUANFC, we celebrate our diversity loudly and proudly. I’m excited to see everyone in their colours and giving back to the community this Pride Round”
Saturday promises to be an incredible day off the field as well as on the field. We have some exciting football lined up, with our Premier Teams at Oval No.1 all taking on fierce opponents, UNSW-ES.
To celebrate Pride Round you can purchase a Limited Edition SUANFC Pride Round Warm-Up Tee HERE. SUANFC Pride Round Scarves will be available for purchase at Oval No.1 on Saturday. All profits from sales of Pride Round apparel will go towards Camp Out.