Volleyball 'Steel Girls NO L CUP 2026' Promotes Safe Spaces for LGBTQIAN+

MGR Online•Politics•20d ago

Reader Briefing

The 'Steel Girls NO L CUP 2026' volleyball tournament enters its 7th year, aiming to create safe spaces and reduce health risks for the LGBTQIAN+ community.

•The 'Steel Girls NO L CUP 2026' volleyball tournament, now in its 7th year, is organized by Thai PBS and partners to promote health and create safe spaces for the LGBTQIAN+ community.
•The event focuses on fostering acceptance, reducing bias and health risk factors like alcohol and drug use, and empowering LGBTQIAN+ athletes.
•Player surveys indicate a significant need for safe spaces, with many reporting bullying and harassment, highlighting the tournament's importance.
•The competition includes five regional stages across Thailand concluding with the championship, encouraging participation and promoting healthy lifestyles.

Overview

•The 7th annual 'Steel Girls NO L CUP 2026' volleyball tournament is underway, continuing a tradition of promoting health and LGBTQIAN+ inclusion.
•Thai PBS, the Health Promotion Fund (SBF), Social Inclusion Network Foundation, and M Plus Foundation are co-organizing the tournament.
•The organizers aim to create safe spaces that 'erase bias' and 'reduce health risk factors' by promoting a 'no alcohol, no smoking, no drugs, no gambling' culture.
•The tournament serves as a platform for LGBTQIAN+ athletes to showcase their talents, fostering understanding and acceptance within society.
•A survey of 2025 participants revealed that over 40% of athletes experienced bullying based on their gender identity, and 14.17% faced sexual harassment or assault.
•The initiative seeks to empower the LGBTQ+ community, combat stigmatization, and provide a safe environment that mitigates risks like alcohol consumption and mental health issues.
•The tournament will take place across five regional stages from May 23-24, 2026 to July 11-12, 2026, culminating in the national championship in Bangkok.
•The organizers hope to elevate the competition to international standards, positioning Thailand as a hub for LGBTQIAN+ sporting events in Asia.

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Key Quotes

Adissak Limprungpatanakij

"What is emphasized is not just the sports competition, but opening up space for LGBTQIAN+ athletes to fully express their potential in sports, arts, and creativity, based on understanding and acceptance."

สิ่งสำคัญที่มุ่งเน้นไม่ใช่เพียงแค่การแข่งขันกีฬา แต่คือการเปิดพื้นที่ให้กลุ่มนักกีฬาที่มีความหลากหลายทางเพศ (LGBTQIAN+) ได้แสดงศักยภาพด้านกีฬา ศิลปะ และความคิดสร้างสรรค์อย่างเต็มที่ บนพื้นฐานของความเข้าใจและการยอมรับ

Wittaya Kulsamran

"The key mission is to make risk factors like alcohol and cigarettes zero, using volleyball as a tool to create safe spaces and promote good well-being."

พันธกิจสำคัญคือการทำให้ปัจจัยเสี่ยงอย่างเหล้าและบุหรี่เป็นศูนย์ โดยใช้กีฬาวอลเลย์บอลเป็นเครื่องมือสร้างพื้นที่ปลอดภัยและสร้างสุขภาวะที่ดี

Wisnu Srithawong

"This competition is more than just a sport, it's a 'space to change minds' using sports as a tool to erase stigmatization and empower LGBTQ+ individuals to confidently express themselves."

การแข่งขันครั้งนี้เป็นมากกว่ากีฬา แต่คือ “พื้นที่เปลี่ยนความคิด” ที่ใช้กีฬาเป็นเครื่องมือในการลบอคติ (Stigmatization) และเสริมพลัง (Empowerment) ให้กลุ่ม LGBTQ+ ได้แสดงตัวตนอย่างมั่นใจ

Ratsameekarn Fakteklon

"Thailand should be Asia's hub for organizing competitions for LGBTQIAN+ like the Euro Games or World Games abroad, so everyone with a dream has a real platform to showcase their potential."

ประเทศไทยควรเป็นศูนย์กลาง (Hub) ของเอเชียในการจัดการแข่งขันสำหรับกลุ่ม LGBTQIAN+ เหมือนกับ Euro Games หรือ World Games ในต่างประเทศ เพื่อให้ทุกคนที่มีความฝันได้มีเวทีแสดงศักยภาพอย่างแท้จริง

Key Entities

Organization

Public Broadcasting Organization of Thailand(องค์การกระจายเสียงและแพร่ภาพสาธารณะแห่งประเทศไทย)ℹ️

A public media organization co-organizing the 'Steel Girls NO L CUP 2026' volleyball tournament to promote health and LGBTQIAN+ inclusion.

Thai PBS(ไทยพีบีเอส)ℹ️

The public broadcasting organization of Thailand, co-organizing the 'Steel Girls NO L CUP 2026' volleyball tournament.

Health Promotion Fund(สำนักงานกองทุนสนับสนุนการสร้างเสริมสุขภาพ)

An organization contributing to health promotion initiatives, co-organizing the 'Steel Girls NO L CUP 2026' volleyball tournament.

SBF(สสส.)

Abbreviation for the Health Promotion Fund, co-organizing the 'Steel Girls NO L CUP 2026' volleyball tournament.

Social Inclusion Network Foundation(มูลนิธิเครือข่ายพลังสังคม)

A foundation focused on social inclusion, co-organizing the 'Steel Girls NO L CUP 2026' volleyball tournament.

M Plus Foundation(มูลนิธิเอ็มพลัส)

A foundation involved in promoting LGBTQIAN+ rights and health, co-organizing the 'Steel Girls NO L CUP 2026' volleyball tournament.

Team Prasertnikornkul, Bueng Kan Province(ทีมประเสริฐนิกรกุล จ.บึงกาฬ)

The reigning two-time champions of the 'Steel Girls NO L CUP' volleyball tournament.

Person

Adissak Limprungpatanakij(นายอดิศักดิ์ ลิมปรุ่งพัฒนกิจ)

Deputy Director of Thai PBS for Technology, who expressed support for the 'Steel Girls NO L CUP 2026' tournament.

Associate Professor Pharmacist Dr. Wittaya Kulsamran(รองศาสตราจารย์ เภสัชกร ดร.วิทยา กุลสมบูรณ์)

Board member of the Health Promotion Fund (SBF) and Executive Committee Member, emphasizing the goal of zero risk factors.

Wisnu Srithawong(นายวิษณุ ศรีทะวงศ์)

An individual who highlighted the tournament's role in challenging stigma and empowering the LGBTQ+ community.

Pairat Jaiboon(นายไพรัตน์ ใจบุญ)

Representative from the M Plus Foundation, discussing the integration of HIV prevention and health services into the tournament.

Coach Som-o(โค้ชส้มโอ)

Naphassaphon Krichyanon, coach of Team Prasertnikornkul, expressing readiness to defend their championship.

Naphassaphon Krichyanon(นภัสภณ กริชยานนท์)

Coach of the defending champions, Team Prasertnikornkul, also known as Coach Som-o.

Kobua(กอบัว)

A volleyball player from Team Prasertnikornkul who spoke about the benefits of abstaining from alcohol.

Luekua(ลูกเกื้อ)

A volleyball player from Team Prasertnikornkul who discussed how avoiding alcohol aids recovery and discipline.

Ratsameekarn Fakteklon(รัศมีแข ฟ้าเกื้อล้น)

A famous idol who participated in the event, advocating for Thailand to become an LGBTQIAN+ sporting hub in Asia.

Coco Ggkkr Benjathikul(โกโก้ กกกร เบญจาธิกุล)

A famous idol who mentioned the increasing openness of the sports industry regarding gender.

Place

Northeastern Region(ภาคอีสาน)

One of the five regions in Thailand hosting a stage of the 'Steel Girls NO L CUP 2026' volleyball tournament.

Central Region(ภาคกลาง)

One of the five regions in Thailand hosting a stage of the 'Steel Girls NO L CUP 2026' volleyball tournament.

Southern Region(ภาคใต้)

One of the five regions in Thailand hosting a stage of the 'Steel Girls NO L CUP 2026' volleyball tournament.

Northern Region(ภาคเหนือ)

One of the five regions in Thailand hosting a stage of the 'Steel Girls NO L CUP 2026' volleyball tournament.

Khon Kaen University(มหาวิทยาลัยขอนแก่น)ℹ️

The venue for the Northeastern region stage of the 'Steel Girls NO L CUP 2026' volleyball tournament.

Khon Kaen Province(จังหวัดขอนแก่น)ℹ️

The province hosting the Northeastern region stage of the 'Steel Girls NO L CUP 2026' volleyball tournament.

Ang Thong Sports School(โรงเรียนกีฬาอ่างทอง)

The venue for the Central region stage of the 'Steel Girls NO L CUP 2026' volleyball tournament.

Ang Thong Province(จังหวัดอ่างทอง)ℹ️

The province hosting the Central region stage of the 'Steel Girls NO L CUP 2026' volleyball tournament.

Maejo University(มหาวิทยาลัยแม่โจ้)ℹ️

The venue for the Northern region stage of the 'Steel Girls NO L CUP 2026' volleyball tournament.

Chiang Mai Province(จังหวัดเชียงใหม่)ℹ️

The province hosting the Northern region stage of the 'Steel Girls NO L CUP 2026' volleyball tournament.

Songkhla Rajabhat University(มหาวิทยาลัยราชภัฏสงขลา)

The venue for the Southern region stage of the 'Steel Girls NO L CUP 2026' volleyball tournament.

Songkhla Province(จังหวัดสงขลา)ℹ️

The province hosting the Southern region stage of the 'Steel Girls NO L CUP 2026' volleyball tournament.

Suan Sunandha Rajabhat University(มหาวิทยาลัยราชภัฏสวนสุนันทา)ℹ️

The venue for the championship round of the 'Steel Girls NO L CUP 2026' volleyball tournament in Bangkok.

Bangkok(กรุงเทพฯ)ℹ️

The capital city of Thailand, hosting the championship round of the 'Steel Girls NO L CUP 2026' volleyball tournament.