SPORT LGBTQ+ History Month

RHUL Lacrosse

Founded by Schools Out, the overall aim of LGBT+ History Month is to promote equality and diversity for the benefit of the public. They achieve this by:

Increasing the visibility of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (“LGBT+”) people, their history, lives and their experiences in the curriculum and culture of educational and other institutions, and the wider community

Raising awareness and advancing education on matters affecting the LGBT+ community

Working to make educational and other institutions safe spaces for all LGBT+ communities

Promoting the welfare of LGBT+ people, by ensuring that the education system recognises and enables LGBT+ people to achieve their full potential, so they contribute fully to society and lead fulfilled lives, thus benefiting society as a whole

Royal Holloway is a proudly diverse university with a clear stance on allyship to its many Queer students. In particular, the aims of LGBTQ+ History Month align with the goals of Royal Holloway Lacrosse and The Orbital. These are more than just extracurriculars, with both striving to create a home away from home for their Queer members. February is the perfect opportunity to go the extra mile in doing this, so we have decided to come together this LGBTQ+ History Month to express our ongoing support for the Queer community.

Whether you identify as Queer or not, this month is a good time to learn a little bit more about why LGBTQ+ history is so important, and how you can support the community. Many consider themselves extremely lucky to be at a university as accepting as Royal Holloway, but Queer people around the world are still faced with lots of additional challenges both within and outside of the sporting world. You never know who might be struggling with their identity in this way, so showing your support as an individual, sports club, or society could make all the difference.

Royal Holloway’s lacrosse club takes pride in being an especially safe space for many Queer members. They are passionate about sharing the importance of Queer representation in sport, LGBT+ History Month, and how sport has positively impacted the university experience of many Queer students. The Orbital spoke to two members of the club about the importance of the sport to them, and here is what they had to say:

“Being a member of the LGBTQ+ community myself, it is always important to feel like you belong and can do sports without judgement or prejudice. So being the president of lacrosse, I want every member to feel safe and loved in our club and to celebrate being queer sportspeople. I feel like our club is extremely friendly and to have other queer team members is a special feeling and will always remain a safe place for people who also identify as part of the community!” –

Caitlin Scott, President.

“Joining a club as social, fun and supportive (in all capacities) as RHUL Lacrosse really can make the university experience, especially if you are someone who has struggled with your sexuality or gender identity previously, and been left feeling like a bit of an outsider. Every single member is so valued, cared about and encouraged, both within the sport itself and on a more personal basis. It definitely feels like a real safe space for Queer sportspeople, and I really hope to see lots more of us joining in! Don’t worry if you have never picked up a lacrosse stick in your life. It’s largely about fun, friendship and learning a brand new skill. To me, there is no better way to meet some like-minded people.” -

Beth McCowen

Here are some inspirational LGBTQ+ professional athletes who have paved the way for a more in- clusive sports world:

Nicola Adams OBE: Making History, Breaking Records

-Britain’s most successful female boxer

-Won a Gold medal at the London 2012 Olympics

-Proudly part of the LGBTQ+ community

Alana Smith: Progress in Tokyo

-Accomplished non-binary athlete

-Competed for the USA in street skateboarding at Tokyo’s Olympics

Beth Mead: Driving Force Behind the Success of Women’s Football

-Winner of BBC’s 2022 Sports Personality of the Year

-Forward for the successful England and Arsenal Women’s football teams

-In a relationship with fellow footballer Vivianne Miedema

Patricio Manuel: Fighting Prejudice

-Professional boxer as a woman prior to coming out as trans

-Was dropped by his coach and gym after transitioning

-Fought Hugo Aguilar in 2018, becoming the first openly transgender boxer in the US

Greg Louganis: Olympian and Activist

-Won four gold and one silver medal at three Olympic Games as a diver

-Came out as gay after this, in 1994

-Announced he was living with AIDS in 1995