Finding your people | LGBTQIA+ History Month 🏳️🌈
Some people join a sports club to get fitter.
Some join because they miss competition.
Some just want to try something new.
Kate joined Clangers in September 2024 at the same time as her son, with no real idea of what to expect and definitely no plan to fall in love with basketball.
She’d never played before. Never thought of herself as sporty. And yet, a year later, she’s a core member of our women's team that is going from strength to strength as they tackle their first season of local league.
When we started this women's squad, we knew that we wanted to create a space that felt open, welcoming and safe. That makes a huge difference when you’re new.
For Kate, and many of the women, Clangers became more than just a weekly session. It became an outlet where she could switch off during stressful periods. A place to build confidence without even realising it was happening. And somewhere to make proper new friends.
Kate’s son was welcomed just as warmly. From day one, it felt like a club that wanted families there, not just tolerated them. That sense of openness mattered.
“As an LGBTQ family, me and my partner have always felt welcomed at Clangers. That’s not been the case in other sports settings.”
Too many sports spaces still come with side-eye, comments passed off as jokes, or a general feeling that you don’t quite fit. Kate had seen that before, and it put her off sports environments entirely.
Clangers was different immediately.
Her very first interaction with anyone at the club was seeing the coach and her wife, walking in holding hands. That was enough to tell her: yeah, we’ll be alright here.
Clangers is a club that is inclusive by nature, not just by name. It is built into our DNA through actions, culture, and the way people treat each other week after week.
During LGBTQIA+ History Month, we’re proud to share Kate’s story. Not because it’s extraordinary, but because it shows what’s possible when sport actually means everyone.
This is Clangers.
And if you’re wondering whether you’d fit in, you probably will. 🏀🧡🏳️🌈