Exploring LGBTQ+ people’s perception of belonging in sport and leisure

Sport and leisure are often imagined as places where people come together, build community, and feel that they belong. For many LGBTQ+ people, that promise does not always hold. This study moved beyond participation rates to examine how LGBTQ+ people experience belonging in sport and leisure, and whether this differs by age and the way people engage. We conducted a cross-sectional survey in Victoria, Australia, with 811 LGBTQ+ participants. This included 302 young people aged 16–24 and 509 adults aged 25 and older. Participants were recruited through LGBTQ+ organisations and community events. The survey measured sport and leisure engagement, sport fandom, demographic information, and a four-item scale of belonging. We analysed the data using descriptive statistics, confirmatory factor analysis, group comparisons, regression modelling, and moderation analysis. Belonging was generally higher among participants who engaged in both sport and leisure and lowest among those who did not engage in either. These differences were clear for adults but not statistically significant for young people. Across both age groups, fandom was a consistent predictor of belonging, suggesting that connection to sport can be built without playing. Identity also mattered in age-specific ways, including lower belonging among adults who identified as Lesbian. Overall, the findings show that belonging is not guaranteed by access alone. It depends on age, identity, and how safe and welcoming sport and leisure spaces feel. These results point to fandom and leisure as important pathways for inclusion and offer guidance for age-sensitive LGBTQ+ strategies in sport and recreation.