What gets measured gets done, so irrespective of the reasons for a recent wave of open and embracing gestures within sport, the intention creates awareness, momentum and change -which can only be a good thing.
Encouraging diversity and inclusiveness benefits sport organisations (improved goodwill and reputation), participants (more opportunities for wellbeing, achievement, self-fulfilment) and society (more acceptance and tolerance of difference).
Whatever the reasons for all feel-good talk in sport, at least those with power and influence are being proactive in addressing sexism, racism and homophobia in their code.
Recently representatives from New Zealand rugby, football, cricket, league, netball and hockey committed to establishing a framework for diversity and inclusion within their respective organisations.
This was in response to the findings from an international study into homophobia in sport called "Out on the Fields'', released last year.
Nearly 9500 people, primarily from English-speaking countries, from a wide range of ages, income, education and sexuality, participated.
The call for an international study began at the 2014 world cup of gay rugby in Sydney and quickly gained momentum.
The findings suggest that 62% of all participants and 73% of gay men believe homophobia is more common in team sports than the rest of society in their country so it is appropriate that six team sports are the first to initiate change.
Eighty percent of participants witnessed or experienced homophobia in sport and 54% of gay men and 48% of lesbians said they had personally experienced homophobia.
This included bullying, physical assaults and verbal slurs. Countries involved in the study were ranked from most accepting to the least accepting to create an inclusion score and New Zealand (120/500) scored the bronze behind Canada (148/500) and Australia (122/500).
New Zealand participants who had personally been targeted with homophobia were the least likely to report being physically assaulted (12%).
New Zealand and Australia also had the highest number of gay youth who hid their sexuality, while New Zealand lesbians in adult sport were the most likely to be out of the closet. Shouldn't we improve on this score and aim for gold? Six New Zealand sport organisations think so.
In response to a provocative question asking if he thought New Zealand and All Blacks fans were ready for a gay All Black, Steve Tew said "absolutely''.
What New Zealanders may not be ready for is the idea that someone who has already donned an All Black jersey is gay or bisexual. It takes a brave athlete (especially in male-dominated team sports) to come out of the closet while still playing their sport at the elite level.
Sport is both a reflection of society but also a key socialising agent in the lives of many New Zealanders.
Sport doesn't create LBGT individuals, it gives them an opportunity to reach their potential, to experience the elation and despair that comes with a win or a loss, to gain a sense of connection that all New Zealanders should experience.
Hopefully, the recent announcement by New Zealand's big hitters in sport makes playing sport just a little less threatening for all whether they're gay, straight, bisexual or transgendered.
