DIVERSITY. Inclusion. Equality. These are very important words, but have you ever sat down and considered what they really mean, and the effect that not implementing them can have on someone and their life?

Vast swathes of society have stories to tell about what it means to be marginalised, discriminated against, and the devastating effects this can have on their mental and physical health.

Everyone deserves to be treated with respect, with impartiality and to be happy. There is no place today for gender inequality, racism, homophobia and many other discriminatory actions or attitudes.

Yet, there are still those who live in fear; afraid to be who they really are and to live their lives openly. Times are changing, and Ireland is a world leader in many ways.

Last month our sister paper, the Irish Farmers Journal, hosted a webinar entitled Bridging the Gap. Hosted by the paper’s editor Justin McCarthy and moderated by my colleague Amii McKeever, editor of Irish Country Living, it brought together CEOs and leaders of organisations such as Ornua, Trivium Vet, Bank of Ireland and Accenture to discuss what they and their organisations are doing to foster a culture of diversity and inclusion.

Strive for change

The event’s mission was to encourage and support decision makers, including all employers, to strive for positive change. These requirements also exist in the worlds of racing and the wider equine industry, and today we will look at one aspect of life that still needs to be brought to the fore.

I recently spoke with David Letts about Racing With Pride, an initiative that has really taken off in Britain and been widely embraced by the racing industry. The time has come to do something similar in Ireland, and to this end I extend an invitation for anyone with an interest in being involved, even marginally, to make contact with me at leopowell@theirishfield.ie.

Meanwhile, I wholeheartedly commend Horse Racing Ireland (HRI) for some very positive actions they are taking in this area,

I asked David Letts to pen something for me about the work he and colleagues have undertaken, and to give some background to what is behind Pride month, a period that is about to come to an end.

British racing showing the way forward

PRIDE month, in June each year, recognises the Stonewall Riots of June 28th, 1969 which were a turning point for LGBT+ rights across the world. Celebrations now happen throughout the summer.

Pride is about LGBT+ communities and allies coming together to celebrate the progress which has been made, whilst recognising that there is still work to do.

Although vast strides have been made in levels of acceptance in Western societies, homosexuality remains illegal in 69 countries and is punishable by death in a number. European countries such as Hungary and Poland have recently approved legislation which reduce LGBT+ freedoms and protections, demonstrating that there is no place for complacency.

Pride is about committing to play our role in addressing the issues which still exist, through education and promoting an open dialogue around LGBT+ inclusion.

Why is it important for racing to show support?

Research undertaken by David Letts shows that attitudes towards LGBT+ inclusion in British racing are largely positive, though LGBT+ individuals working in racing are less likely to be out in the workplace than to family and friends. It also highlighted considerable homophobic language being used throughout the sport, which can make an environment seem unwelcoming for LGBT+ people.

Mental health problems such as depression, alcohol and drug abuse, self-harm and suicidal thoughts can affect anyone, but they’re more common among people who are LGBT+.

Being LGBT+ doesn’t cause these problems, but some things LGBT+ people go through can affect their mental health, such as discrimination, homophobia or transphobia, social isolation, rejection and difficult experiences of coming out.

A recent study found that over the previous year half of LGBT+ people had experienced depression and three in five had experienced anxiety; one in eight LGBT+ people aged 18-24 had attempted to end their life; and almost half of trans people had thought about taking their life.

It’s important to note that embracing being LGBT+ can have a positive impact on someone’s wellbeing. It might mean they have more confidence, a sense of belonging to a community, feelings of relief and self-acceptance, better relationships with friends, family and colleagues, as well as improved productivity and job satisfaction.

What is racing doing?

The British racing industry has been doing a lot of work around LGBT+ inclusion over the last year, with the formation of Racing With Pride and the launch of a specific e-learning module on Racing2Learn.com. Further projects include the creation of a communications resource pack, webinars and guidance resources and engagement with Stonewall’s Rainbow Laces campaign.

Pride offers the perfect opportunity for the sport to celebrate the work undertaken, and visibly show its support for the LGBT+ community.

What is Racing With Pride?

Racing With Pride was established in 2020 as part of the sport’s broader Diversity in Racing Steering Group. The Racing With Pride committee aims to further awareness, education and engagement relating to LGBT+ matters. The network was established for those associated with British racing, but has membership from Irish participants who are seeking the safe and supportive environment, with a shared passion for racing, which is offered by the group.

This month individuals and organisations across horse racing came together to celebrate Pride month. Displays of support such as social media activity, race titles and media coverage have been increasingly visible across the sport. In addition, organisations are looking at what can be done to foster inclusive environments which encourage new spectators and talent to racing.

Organisations are also showing their support visibly, with HRI raising the Pride flag outside their offices, while York and Santa Anita racecourses hoisted the famous rainbow flag in celebration.

Racing With Pride will be hosting a free webinar on Friday, July 16th, focusing on the importance of Allyship and how we all have a role to play in making sure that racing is an open and inclusive sport.

An academic researcher and chair of Racing With Pride, David Letts commented: “It is fantastic to see the sport’s enthusiasm for engaging with Pride month, which seems to develop year-on-year. We have been approached by organisations across the sport - both in Britain and Ireland - who want to demonstrate their support and ensure that they are doing so authentically. We are now working alongside these organisations to create action plans, offer internal training sessions and form ongoing relationships. What’s most reassuring is the recognition that these commitments go beyond Pride month and are seen as a year-round focus.”

Why should racing be taking this seriously?

Most businesses recognise that their most valuable assets are their people. In racing, these people deliver every day for trainers, owners, breeders, jockeys, racecourses, their customers, suppliers, racing staff and shareholders. Organisations that value the differences of their people understand that diversity and inclusion are good for business, driving better individual, business and industry outcomes.

The best organisations understand that everyone should be able to bring their whole self to work; when an organisation is clear and proactive about having an inclusive environment, LGBT+ employees can put all their energy into work tasks.

Given that an estimated 5-10% belong to the LGBT+ community, it is increasingly important for racing to demonstrate inclusive practices to attract new audiences, owners, and employees to racing.

Contacts

For support and further information contact, in strict confidence, leopowell@theirishfield.ie or info@racingwithpride.co.uk. Follow @RacingWithPride on Twitter or Racing With Pride on Facebook