CHISI (Challenging Homophobia in Sport Initiative) is a sub-committee of Queer Sport Alliance Melbourne and is represented on the committee of QSAM.
CHISI is made up of a number of peak LGBT bodies within Victoria including – Gay and Lesbian Health Victoria, the VEOHRC, ALSO, the R J Mitchell Trust, Transgender Victoria, as well as the School of Sport and Exercise Science, Victoria University.
In 2009 QSAM assisted in providing funds to secure a research project investigating the sport experiences of LGBT people in Victoria: “Come Out To Play”. CHISI made a submission to the major review of Australian sport conducted by the Federal Government in 2009. As a result of this submission LGBT people are recognised as a marginalised / discriminated group in their participation in Australian sport, and this acknowledgement is made in the final report (Crawford Report) emanating from the sports review. The Crawford Report recommends that resources, policy and programs need to be made available to the recognised disadvantaged groups so as to ensure all Australians are included in the sports agenda.
The "Come Out To Play" report was launched on 17th May 2010 as part of of the sports themed IDAHO (International Day Against HOmophobia). It was also presented at the National LGBTI Health Alliance conference Health In Difference 2010.
The "Come Out To Play" report can be viewed at Australian Policy Online http://www.apo.org.au/research/come-out-play.