In the lead up to the Pride Game on Saturday 13 August, St Kilda Football Club is sharing stories of a few inspiring individuals that support the Round 21 clash.

Having advocated for the rights of the LGBTIQ community for over two decades, Victorian Commissioner for Gender and Sexuality Rowena Allen was thrilled to be approached by St Kilda Football Club to support the Pride Game.

“I’m really proud that St Kilda Football Club came to me and asked for support for this Pride Game, it wasn’t me going to the AFL,” Allen told saints.com.au.

“Pride Game matters because sport matters, and football matters in Victoria, and we want to make sure that everywhere in Victoria is a really safe place for LGBTI people.”

Allen was appointed to the newly created role of Victorian Commissioner for Gender and Sexuality in 2015, nearly 20 years after setting up the first rural same sex attracted youth program.

Allen’s activism has been prompted from her own feelings of exclusion for identifying as part of the LGBTIQ community and knows that in order for others within that community to feel as though they belong at the football, they must first feel comfortable to be themselves.

“Belonging to me means being safe, somewhere where you see yourself reflected and where you feel part of the family.”