Festive season wishes

Last weekend our last GLTA Tour events of the year wrapped up in Bangkok and Frankfurt and it’s time to look back on another amazing year where we all come together around the world to enjoy the sport we love and support each other as members of the LGBTIQ+ Community.

Being the first full year completely free of Covid restrictions 2023 saw the average number of participants at events exceed the 2019 season, along with new events around the world, the GLTA continues to grow and inspire people. All this wouldn’t be possible if individuals didn’t volunteer to spend many hours of their time in organising the events. We owe an enormous debt of gratitude to tournament teams who work tirelessly behind the scenes for many months to give players the opportunities to participate. We also celebrate the success of players, not only on court but for the connections they make and the support they give others our in community.

Pride in who we are is an amazing achievement, it’s important to remind ourselves every day that our LGBTIQ+ Community is strongest when we are connected and supportive of all our diverse members. The issue of trans inclusion in sport is one that potentially divides us and is being used to sow fear and hate. I believe we have an opportunity to lead the way on this issue free of the exclusionary rhetoric on one side and without the cancel culture on the other. As a starting point the GLTA recommends all main draw divisions are designated as Any Gender, meaning anyone can participate. Women are an underrepresented group in sport so for the GLTA events that can have women’s draws, we encourage the full set of Women’s divisions (Open to D). We hope that this encourages more people from diverse backgrounds and underrepresented groups in our community to join us. This gives them the opportunity to form the social connections which makes such a difference to our lives.

Looking ahead we can absolutely be excited about all that awaits us in 2024. The first quarter will see the much-anticipated Aussie Summer Swing, including the GLTA Championships in Australia for the first time, the European Indoor season, new events in Auckland, Puerto Vallarta and Sao Paulo as well as the return of US events in the warmer US States. I hope you are all planning your schedules to get to some of these events.

On behalf of the entire board, I wish you and your loved ones all the very best for a joyful Festive/ holiday/Christmas/New Year season. Whatever and how ever we celebrate, let’s try and have a great time.

Kindest regards

Rowen D’Souza, GLTA President CEO