United Pride Stories: Andrew Bondini and the Melbourne Spectres

Written By
Melbourne United Media
For the better part of a quarter century, Spectres Australia Basketball has helped create an inclusive and welcoming environment for those within the LGBTIQA community.
Starting in 2001 is Sydney with a group of seven men wanting to participate in the 2002 Gay Games, the Spectres have grown exponentially, thanks in part to Andrew Bondini, who joined the group in 2002.
“I came on a year later (in 2002) and had such a great experience from an inclusivity point of view,” he said.
“I just felt like I could be who I could be, be visible and not hide anything.”
Since then, the Spectres have started up clubs in Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth and Adelaide with the goal of creating an inclusive environment for those wanting to get out on the court.
“Through basketball we bring people together to connect, support one another and thrive as a diverse and vibrant community. That’s what we’re all about.
“There are some people who can feel like they’ve been held back in the community, especially if you’re not out. It can create a lot of barriers for people to enter the sporting space and be confident they can do things in a safe way and be their actual selves.
“You can see people who are putting so much effort into hiding who they are, but when they step on the court and be themselves it’s like a giant weight is lifted.
“Creating a space like we have tried to is about having somewhere where people can just be themselves. They can just turn up, play basketball and create fun vibes with everyone else.”
United stars Tanner Krebs and Marcus Lee recently attended a training session with the Melbourne Spectres, something Bondini believes goes a long way in showcasing the importance of inclusion for all within sport.
“Having Melbourne United and the NBL engage with us as an organisation and engage with the community through Pride Round helps inspire countless other people step forward including fans, athletes and communities and reinforce that basketball is a sport for everyone.”
To find out more about the Melbourne Spectres, click here, or find the team at our Champion Pride Round game on Saturday 1 February on the concourse.