Stonewall join forces with Brighton and Hove Triathlon

In 2016, Brighton and Hove Triathlon launched the UK’s very first Rainbow Wave, inviting individuals to race on closed roads to promote diversity. Focusing on equality and inclusion, the Rainbow Wave is about showing support for diversity in an open and accepting sport. As part of the 2016 event, a large group of NHS employees raced in the wave to raise money for an HIV charity.

Stonewall will be extending their highly successful Rainbow Laces campaign to the world of triathlon and those who fundraise for the charity will receive a pair of laces to wear with pride over the weekend.

John Lunt, Brighton and Hove Triathlon event director, said: ‘Triathlon as a sport has always been about equality, diversity and inclusion and I’m very proud to be supporting Stonewall with our Rainbow Triathlon. It was a great success last year and I hope to see it grow and support the ideals of Stonewall.’

Amelia Sullivan, senior community fundraising Ooficer at Stonewall, said: “There are still many misconceptions about lesbian, gay, bi and trans people in sport and anti-LGBT attitudes remain a serious problem.

“As we know from our research we need to change those attitudes because they put LGBT people off taking part in sport, either as competitors or as fans.

“For example, we’ve learned that more than six in ten gay and bi men and four in ten lesbian and bi women expect to experience anti-LGBT behaviour in team sports.

“It’s great that the Brighton and Hove Triathlon is committed to making LGBT inclusion in sport so visible. We need to show that sport can be everyone’s game.”

Find out more about Stonewall’s Rainbow Laces and where to buy them at http://www.stonewall.org.uk/our-work/campaigns/rainbow-laces