Racing Pride is an innovative LGBTQ+ movement with the intention to promote inclusivity within the motorsport industry. Whilst originally founded in the UK, it has already branched out to North America. Now, co-founder Richard Morris is keen for the rest of Europe to get involved.
Whilst at Zandvoort to race in the Sports Prototype cup at the Voorjaarsraces, Morris took the initiative to organise a meet-up with existing friends and allies of Racing Pride. They could watch him and fellow Racing Pride ambassador Abbie Eaton race and were given a chance to chat all things Racing Pride.
“I’ve enjoyed meeting up with people that I otherwise wouldn’t get the chance to come and speak to, and build a community with them, which is really fantastic,” said Morris. “That is one of my big hopes for this year. Going to five Grand Prix circuits, five different countries, and being able to meet up with lots of different people and spread Racing Pride’s message. I really want to see that international expansion continue and create a global community within motorsport for LGBTQ+ people.”
Racing Pride invited Dutch marshal Rick de Feber, who has been following the organisation from the start. He says, “I have never had anyone [in motorsport] to look up to as a homosexual man. I could never identify with anyone. I just want the next generations to have someone to look up to, someone to identify with.”
Noor Nispen, a 16-year-old Dutch karting star, is that next generation. She was invited by Richard Morris to chat with the Racing Pride ambassadors in Zandvoort about racing and inclusion within the sport. “I had a great time,” she said. “I did not expect that I would be able to chat with the drivers for so long. Racing Pride is a great initiative to build a platform to help people progress in motorsport, increase visibility and improve inclusion in the sport.”
When asked why we currently have so few LGBTQ+ role models in motorsport, Rick de Feber suggests that this has to do with the image the motorsport world still likes to paint of ‘real men’, before adding, “Another big obstacle is the races in countries where the LGBTQ+ community doesn’t get accepted. When you work within the paddock, you might think twice about mentioning it. You don’t want to have to tell your boss that you cannot come along because of your sexuality.”
Richard Morris agrees that racing in countries where the LGBTQ+ community is not supported or represented can be tricky, especially when you’re out – but for him, it is important that for the foreseeable future these races stay on the calendar. “Going there as an openly LGBTQ+ person, and showing what you believe and your values – or even going there as a team showing allyship with the LGBTQ+ community and communicating your values can be a very meaningful and brave thing to do.” Morris adds to this, “I also think that can be a source of comfort to [LGBTQ+] communities in those countries, to see something represented that they otherwise wouldn’t and have people saying things that otherwise wouldn’t be said. So I would always say, that if you can stay true to your values whilst going to these races, then that absolutely is what you should be doing.”
Richard agrees with Rick that this can’t go on forever. “There are some things that are completely unacceptable and need to change. If over a period of time a territory is not moving in the direction that it should, if it is not a safe country to be in, then that needs to be reassessed. We’re talking about global series repeatedly going to a venue. [Organisers] do need to see progress over time in order to justify continuing to go there.”
Abbie Eaton, who has raced in countries where being LGBTQ+ is not assumed to be accepted, said she never felt unsafe doing it. “I’m not bothered about going there. I’m going to race, do what I do, then come home and live my life as me. It’s just a shame that obviously people there haven’t got the freedom that we’ve got in the UK.” But Eaton does remain cautious whilst she is there, “You think about it. Especially with social media. In some countries you think ‘okay maybe I shouldn’t post anything that could be seen as this or that, just to be on the safe side.’”
Eaton suggests that the Racing Pride initiative can function as a safe zone for those who need it. “If you see the Racing Pride sticker associated with a championship, or on the cars, you can think ‘that’s a safe place to be! A welcoming place to be.’ Positivity spreads positivity.” Morris agrees with Eaton on this, suggesting that the existence of a safe space has been lacking in the early stages of his career.
“I had a difficult time feeling like I could come out in motorsport. I realised that I wasn’t straight at the same time as I was starting to take karting more seriously. I’ve made some really good friends in karting, but I didn’t feel like I could come out to them initially, because of what I’d seen around motorsport, the kind of image of the sport. I’ve never seen any LGBTQ+ drivers either, nobody to show me that it would be okay. So I was a bit apprehensive about it.” When he did decide to come out, the initial reactions weren’t great. “Then I just went back into the closet, didn’t tell anyone about it for years and years. Right up to when I started driving prototypes.”
The lack of role models is what inspired him to create Racing Pride. “People say, ‘Why do you need to mention it? Why do you need to show it?’ That’s because it’s not something that is obvious to people unless you say it, but if nobody talks about it, then nobody can communicate their support and nothing gets better.”
Richard Morris is already well on his way to making the motorsport world a more welcoming and inclusive space. After the meetup in Zandvoort, he headed to Zolder in Belgium to test some electric cars. He has invited Belgian Racing Pride friends to the track to connect as well.
His next race with Revolution in the Prototype Cup is during Pride Month, June, in Silverstone.