Media Guide produced by Pride House Birmingham offers guidance on covering LGBTIQ+ people at Commonwealth Games

• Media Guide endorsed by Birmingham 2022 and Commonwealth Games Federation
• Over 100 Games athletes past and present are publicly out as LGBTIQ+
• Donna Fraser, Head of Inclusion and Engagement at B2022, says: "We want all athletes to be treated with respect and have their stories told across the globe"

Guidance for those reporting on LGBTIQ+ people involved in Birmingham 2022 has been published by Pride House Birmingham, the inclusion venue and project at the Commonwealth Games.

The Pride House Birmingham (PHB) Media Guide, which is endorsed by Birmingham 2022 and the Commonwealth Games Federation, offers advice on inclusive language and terminology, use of imagery, and handling reactions.

It has been created to assist editors, journalists, press officers and photographers covering the Games and the sporting action that will unfold.

The Guide contributes towards Birmingham 2022's ambition to bring people together, reminding us of sport’s capacity to unify communities and encourage allyship.

PHB - whose main venue in the heart of Birmingham's Gay Village is now open to the public – will explore diversity across the Commonwealth, showcase talent, promote freedom of expression, and deliver a regional legacy that supports LGBTIQ+-inclusive sports projects.

Pride Houses have been established at many sporting events around the world since 2010, including at Glasgow 2014 and Gold Coast 2018. Visitors to PHB can enjoy activities, performances, screenings, and entertainment, supplemented by viewing opportunities of live sport.

For the first time in Games history, the project is fully integrated at Birmingham 2022 with pop-up Pride Houses present in the Athletes Villages, ensuring wider awareness of its 'Celebrate, Participate, Educate' ethos and programme.

The Media Guide has been designed by PHB partner Sports Media LGBT+ to assist on communicating LGBTIQ+ inclusion and help to make lesbian, gay, bi and trans people feel welcome at the Games.

There will be at least 40 out athletes competing at Birmingham 2022 – more than three times the number from Gold Coast 2018 – and thanks to research provided by historian Tony Scupham-Bilton, PHB is also aware of over 60 former Games athletes who are publicly out as LGBTIQ+.

"There is significant disparity across the Commonwealth with regards to LGBTIQ+ rights, which in turn presents challenges to journalists who will be telling a variety of human interest stories from these Games," says Sports Media LGBT+ founder and lead Jon Holmes, who is part of the PHB executive team.

"We are keen to reflect the Birmingham 2022 ‘Games for Everyone’ slogan by offering these easy-to-access guidelines, which also support the Commonwealth Games Federation’s values of humanity, equality, and diversity.

"Birmingham 2022 will bring the number of out athletes who have competed at the Commonwealth Games to well over 100, but there will be many more LGBTIQ+ athletes who are unable or unready to live their truth openly. For the benefit of all, we hope this Media Guide is received in the spirit of inclusion."

Donna Fraser, Head of Inclusion and Engagement for Birmingham 2022, said: “Pride House for Birmingham 2022 demonstrates our commitment for an inclusive Commonwealth Games.

"We want all athletes to be treated with respect and have their stories told across the globe."

PHB is being delivered by Pride Sports UK, the country's leading LGBTIQ+ sports inclusion organisation, and is supported by main sponsors E.ON, PWC, DXC Technology and LSH Auto.

The main venue is located above The Loft Bar & Kitchen at 143 Bromsgrove St. It is already open to all ahead of the start of the Commonwealth Games on Thursday and will continue to welcome guests up to and including Monday 8 August.

There is the 'LGBTQ+ Human Rights in the Commonwealth' exhibition to view, plus photography of LGBTQ+ athletes. Refreshments and places to watch live sport are available in the main bar area and in the cosy cafe space, while the packed programme of events is available to view here.

Access the Pride House Birmingham Media Guide here.

For more information on the PHB Media Guide and on Pride House Birmingham itself, please contact jon@pridehousebham.org.uk