As part of the Erasmus+ project ‘PLUSS: LGBTQI+ Policy and Leadership in Sport and Society’, led by EGLSF, two online webinars were recently held to facilitate knowledge sharing and discussions on LGBTQI+ inclusion in sport.

These sessions brought together sports practitioners, policymakers, researchers, and members of LGBTQI+ sports communities from across Europe, showcasing key project results and emphasising practical steps for progress at the community and institutional levels.

You can watch both webinars on our YouTube channel.

Webinar 1: Launch of Community Guidelines for Inclusive Sports Clubs

The first webinar introduced the new Community Guidelines, a practical resource designed to help LGBTQIA+ sports clubs build inclusive, resilient, and sustainable structures.

The session began with an overview of the PLUSS project and the GAMES framework (Governance, Advocacy, Membership, Events, and Sustainability) created by two of the project partners, Out for The Win and Sportieq. This flexible toolkit supports clubs of all sizes in improving internal practices while adapting to their local contexts.

A key focus was on membership and volunteering in LGBTQIA+ sport. Lou Englefield from Pride Sports UK, discussed the specific challenges faced by queer sports organisations, such as lower participation in organised sport, negative school sport experiences, chronic underfunding, and mental health pressures. Lou emphasised the importance of recognising neurodiversity and tailoring volunteer engagement to different needs, highlighting the role of LGBTQIA+ sports clubs as spaces for community and personal growth.

The webinar continued with Eloise Birthwhistle from LEAP Sports Scotland discussing governance and sustainability. She shared key principles for effective grassroots organisations, such as transparent decision-making, clearly defined roles, accessible financial practices, and shared sustainability goals. leadership to prevent burnout and promote long-term stability.

The webinar wrapped up with a Q&A section, where attendees actively participated in the debate on addressing barriers faced by LGBTQIA+ athletes in mainstream sport and sharing practical strategies for creating safer, more inclusive environments. Watch the recording of the 1st webinar here.

Webinar 2: Launch of the Purple Policy Paper

The second webinar officially launched the Purple Policy Paper, another key deliverable of the PLUSS project. It offers specific policy advice to help sports authorities and institutions remove structural barriers and promote LGBTQI+ inclusion in sports across Europe.

Sportieq, a PLUSS partner and the webinar’s host, opened the session by highlighting the paper’s main message: LGBTQI+ athletes should participate in a queer sport club because they choose to, not out of a lack of safe alternatives. She emphasised that achieving this requires continuous collaboration between LGBTQI+ sports organisations and mainstream governing bodies.

Claudia Krobitzsch from the German Football Association (DFB) shared their inclusive policy for trans, intersex, and non-binary players, discussing legal issues, implementation challenges, and lessons learned, especially the importance of trained “trusted persons” within clubs.

The discussion went on with Athlete Beau de Leeuw, a non-binary elite weightlifter, who addressed navigating gendered sports systems and called for increased athlete participation, visibility, education, and improved communication from federations.

Finally, Andrej Pišl from Out in Slovenia reflected on 25 years of LGBTQI+ sports activism, highlighting the importance of institutional support, inclusive language, and international collaboration in driving structural change.

The webinar concluded with the presentation of ROSE (Respect, Open Communication, Support, Every Level), a grassroots initiative on safety and inclusion in gymnastics that demonstrates how targeted local measures can drive broader structural change.

Watch the recording of the 2nd webinar here.

Moving Forward

The two PLUSS webinars offered practical tools, real-life experiences, and policy guidance to support LGBTQI+ inclusion at various levels, from grassroots clubs to national federations and European policymaking bodies.

Both sessions conveyed a clear message: sustainable inclusion relies on actions taken at both community and policy levels. When local efforts and systemic reforms work together, sport can become safer, fairer, and more inclusive for everyone.

PLUSS partners will hold their Final Project Meeting from 16 to 18 January 2026 in Zagreb, Croatia. During this time, partners will review the activities and outputs of the projects. Stay tuned for updates.

PLUSS, an Erasmus+ project co-funded by the European Commission

Keep up to date through our social media, newsletter and the PLUSS dedicated section in the
EGLSF webpage! +PLUSS PROJECT - EGLSF.info