Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

LGBTQ+ Inclusion in Sport

Thursday 18 November 2021 · 4 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 0 Partly answered 3 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Minister highlighted progress in LGBT+ inclusion in sport and emphasized the positive impact of sport on diversity.
  • Minister noted ongoing conversations at international level about human rights issues but focused on sport's role in inclusion.
  • Minister agreed to work with ECB on inclusivity issues and the need for actions to address institutional racism in cricket.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Hannah Bardell SNP
Culture, Media & Sport Women & Equalities
Context

The issue of LGBTQ+ inclusion in sports is highlighted, noting that Josh Cavallo is the only top-league male footballer to come out as gay.

Question

What steps she is taking to help support LGBTQ+ inclusion in sport. The Minister mentioned progress with Josh Cavallo's leadership but noted there are no other openly gay male footballers. Given Qatar hosting the World Cup despite strict repression of homosexuality, what message does this send about nations that treat LGBTQ people abhorrently?

Answer from Nigel Huddleston

We continue to see progress in LGBT+ inclusion, and we have frank conversations at international level on issues such as gay rights. The Minister focuses on the positive impact of sport for diversity and inclusion over major sporting events.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The specific request about addressing human rights with Qatar was not directly addressed with concrete actions or commitments.

How: Focus On The Positive Things That Sport Can Do

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Q2 Hannah Bardell SNP
Women & Equalities
Context

The absence of openly gay male players in professional football is highlighted, along with the upcoming World Cup in Qatar.

Question

Given that Josh Cavallo remains the only openly gay male player in top-league football and considering Qatar's human rights record towards LGBTQ individuals, what message does this send about international competitions? Does the Minister agree nations treating LGBTQ people abhorrently should not host such events?

Answer from Nigel Huddleston

We have frank conversations at international level on human rights and gay rights issues, but the Minister focuses on sport's power to highlight inclusion rather than addressing concerns about Qatar hosting the World Cup.

Not addressed: The specific question about whether countries with poor LGBTQ records should host major sporting events was not directly addressed.

How: Focusing On Positive Impact Of Sport

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Q3 Julian Knight Con
Culture, Media & Sport
Context

The issue of inclusivity in cricket is raised, specifically regarding the lack of action following the Fletcher report on institutional racism at Yorkshire County Cricket Club.

Question

Does the Minister agree that it is concerning that the former chair of Yorkshire CCC had not read the Fletcher report despite its findings? Is there a need for robust measures to stop institutional racism and ensure minority talent can flourish in cricket, similar to Kick It Out in football?

Answer from Nigel Huddleston

My hon. Friend is right; we have had frank conversations with the ECB regarding inclusivity issues and Azeem Rafiq's testimony, and the ECB has promised to take action. However, deeds will be judged over words.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The specific request for a robust response mechanism akin to Kick It Out in cricket was not directly addressed with a commitment or timeline.

How: Reassurance That Ecb Takes Issue Seriously

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Q4 John Nicolson SNP
Women & Equalities
Context

The sole openly gay top-tier player, Josh Cavallo, is highlighted as an inspiration. The lack of other such players is seen as a damning indictment of the current environment.

Question

Does the Minister agree it's damning that no professional player has come out publicly in football? Will she call on football bodies to urgently address why this is and create safe environments for players to express themselves openly?

Answer from Nigel Huddleston

Agreeing that it is sad and terrible for people not to feel comfortable expressing themselves in sport, the Minister emphasizes working together across sports to ensure comfort for individuals.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The specific request for the Secretary of State to call on football bodies urgently was not directly addressed with a concrete action plan or timeline.

How: Working Together Across All Sports

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