Factors influencing participation

Organisations looking to develop programs, resources, or policies need to actively listen to and engage with LGBTIQ+ individuals and groups to understand the specific factors that impact them. This can grow relationships, and lead to improved experiences for LGBTIQ+ participants and more sustainable sport organisations. ^{1, 2, 3, 4, 5}

Motivators

Many of the top motivations of LGBTIQ+ individuals are similar to those found in the broader community, such as: ^{6, 7}

• Physical health or fitness ^{2, 6, 8, 9, 10, 11, 119}
• Fun/enjoyment ^{2, 6, 9, 12, 119}
• Social reasons ^{6, 8, 9, 111, 12, 119}
• Psychology/mental health/therapy ^{2, 8, 10, 11, 119}
• To increase body satisfaction (and gender congruence for transgender and gender diverse participants) ^{13, 119}

Facilitators and barriers

There are numerous factors that can either facilitate or pose barriers to the participation of LGBTIQ+ individuals in sport and physical activity.

Factors that impact

There are some factors identified in the literature that are recognised as having a high impact on sport participation for LGBTIQ+ individuals and communities, but every person is unique. What motivates, facilitates, or bars people from participating in sport and physical activities can change over time, and will be influenced by individual backgrounds, life experiences and perspectives, and by broader cultural and social factors. ^{2, 6, 14, 17}

There are also limitations to the type and amount of research available to identify benefits, facilitators, barriers, good practice policies and programs for people across the spectrum of gender and sexuality, as well as looking at intersectional issues (disability, socio-economic, cultural). ^{2, 17, 117, 118}

See more on this topic:

• Overview
• Benefits of Sport
• Factors influencing participation
• Policies, programs, and supporting structures
• Awards and recognition