Created by official apparel supplier Valour Sport, the team will be proudly running out in not just the purple, but the rainbow as well. The Firebirds’ warm-up tee, and the fan merchandise tees, will feature an epic rainbow gradient surrounded by purple – a true reflection of the work both Netball Queensland and the Firebirds do to create an inclusive, diverse space to work, play and thrive in.
In addition to the warm-up tee, the team will also wear rainbow bibs in support of the LGBTQ+ community.
Since pioneering the first Pride match in 2020, the Firebirds and Magpies will continue the tradition for the third consecutive season. However, this season marks an important step forward with Suncorp Super Netball officially endorsing the inaugural Inclusion Round and encouraging teams to celebrate initiatives important to them.
“The T-shirts are another amazing way for our fans to celebrate our sport and the rainbow community who play such a massive part in making netball an environment that people want to be part of,” Firebirds’ defender and AIS Thrive with Pride ambassador Ruby Bakewell-Doran said.
“It’s a celebration of how powerful sport can be in connecting us and making us feel like we belong.
“We are thrilled to partner with Valour Sport to create these Pride tees.
“Inclusivity is at the heart of our team and an important part of being an ally is being visible, being active and supporting the community as much as we can.”
Netball Queensland Head of Diversity and Inclusion Autumn Pierce said the upcoming match was a chance to highlight the important work being done by the organisation in the LGBTQ space.
“In partnership with Pride in Sport we have offered Empowering Allies training to all staff to inform the strategic initiative to define what allyship means to Netball Queensland, including how every individual can practice it to contribute to building inclusive and equitable environments,” Pierce said.
“Throughout the year, Netball Queensland is also working through the 2023 Pride in Sport Index to ensure LGBTQ inclusion is consistently and authentically embedded into our ways of working.”
As part of Inclusion Week, Netball Queensland is also offering Pride in Sport’s LGBTQ+ awareness training to HART Sapphire and Ruby clubs via an online training session that Bakewell-Doran will also be involved in.
The Pride tee is a symbol of our continued commitment to progressing our sport and supporting the rainbow community. By purchasing the Pride tee, Firebirds’ fans get to be a part of something bigger than just a T-shirt – they get to be part of taking conscious steps towards creating a more inclusive culture in all sport.
By creating the Pride tee, Valour Sport is excited to play a role in Netball Queensland’s commitment to ensuring the game is a welcoming and thriving space.
“Inclusivity in sports is essential, as it allows everyone to feel valued and respected, regardless of their background or identity,” Valour Sports Director Matthew Knight said.
“Valour Sport is proud to support the Firebirds' initiative towards inclusivity, and we hope that this collaboration will inspire others to embrace diversity and inclusivity in their respective sports.”
Replica Pride T-shirts are now available for purchase on the Valour Sport website or at their pop-up merchandise stores.
