Softball in the UK has a long history of being a welcoming and inclusive sport for members of the LGBTQ+ community. LGBTQ+ players are spread throughout a baseball and softball playing community of more than 21,200 in cities and towns around the UK.
Strike Out Hate UK
BaseballSoftballUK and Pride Tape are excited to partner together to Strike Out Hate in the UK!
Pride Tape is available in the UK exclusively through our Official Supplier Baseball Outlet.
The LGBTQ+ Steering Group
The LGBTQ+ Steering Group is a sounding board for BaseballSoftballUK’s LGBTQ+ work. The Steering Group helps to create inclusive policy and advise on inclusion for LGBTQ+ participants within the sports.
The current members of the Steering Group are:
- Abi Battisto - Leicester Diamonds, Leicester
- Thomas Haywood - International baseball umpire, Edinburgh
- Cristian Speroni - London Raiders Softball Club, London
- Holly Ireland - Baseball Softball Gwalia, Cardiff
- George Bartlett - Bristol Softball League, Bristol
- Matt Evans – Coventry Softball Club, Coventry
- Georgie, Sophie & Mia - Glasgow Sunflowers Baseball Club, Glasgow
- Jack Rains - Stingers Softball Club, Manchester
- Gina Amos - Liverpool Softball League, Liverpool
- Leroy Lane - RBI Wales, Cardiff
- Helle Sylvest - Softball Denmark, Copenhagen
Out on the Bases
Out on the Bases is BaseballSoftballUK's LGBTQ+ network, providing a safe space for LGBTQ+ baseball and softball players and their allies.
Request to join the group here.
You Can Play Pledge
In partnership with the international sports-based LGBTQ+ organisation You Can Play, BaseballSoftballUK and clubs around the UK have created You Can Play Pledge videos to show their dedication to inclusion and diversity in baseball and softball.
Read more here and watch the playlist below or here.
Want to get involved?
The LGBT Advisory Steering Group is open to new members and welcomes guests at its meetings.
If you have an interest in the work of the Steering Group, please email info@BSUK.com.
Inclusive Rules
The LGBTQ+ Steering Group has created a set of Inclusive Softball Rules, designed to assist teams in managing the inclusion of non-binary and transgendered players. You can download the rules below. Please note that these rules are a guide and can be adapted as needed.