Pride House ready to welcome LGBTQ people at Commonwealth Games

Pride House will play host to LGBTQ athletes, coaches and fans at next month’s Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast, Australia.

The installation will be hosted at Rise, a gay club at Surfer’s Paradise. Some of the LGBTQ athletes already showing support for the effort are former Olympic gold medalists Natalie Cook of beach volleyball and diver Matthew Mitcham.

“It’s really comforting to know that you’re in a place where you are accepted and embraced for exactly who you are,” Mitcham told QNews magazine.

Pride House has been a meeting place for LGBTQ people at various international sporting events, starting with the 2010 Winter Olympics in Canada. Earlier this year Pride House popped up in Pyeongchang, South Korea, at the Winter Olympics.

The Commonwealth Games are held every four years and include countries that were once British colonies and that still pay homage to the crown. About 70 nations participate, including Canada, South Africa, India, Pakistan, Kenya, Great Britain and this year’s host, Australia.