King pins for inclusion

A tenpin bowling centre in Melbourne’s west has put its best foot forward to welcome LGBTI players to its league.

Werribee Superbowl manager Doriana Porto said the Wyncity Bowl and Entertainment Centre wants to create an inclusive environment for all its players.

“All of our leagues are already gay-friendly and I’m lucky enough to have a transgender customer and he’s in the process of transitioning to a female,” Porto told the Star Observer.

“We try and be inclusive of everybody, whether it be race or special needs groups or any type of thing.”

A family business built by Porto’s father, the centre attempted to set up a lesbian-friendly women’s-only league this month, but there was not enough interest shown to get it off the ground.

Porto said the centre would instead concentrate on ensuring all players — gay or straight — are welcome to bowl in the club’s existing leagues.

“We’ve already got quite a few gay players,” she said. “Whether they’re lesbians or homosexuals, when it comes to tenpin bowling, it really doesn’t matter.”

Two bowlers who showed interest in joining the women’s-only league were local couple Rhiannon and Lindsay Smeaton.

The pair were married in Werribee on Valentine’s Day in 2009.
“You can tell they have a lot of love for each other and respect for each other,” Porto said.

Porto attended the Smeatons’ wedding and said she believes same-sex marriage should be allowed in Australia.

“I do think the law should change,” she said. “I think as long as everybody behaves in a Christian manner, and doesn’t do any harm unto others, I think there’s nothing wrong with it, I’m supportive of [marriage equality].”

Werribee Superbowl is not the only LGBTI-friendly tenpin bowling venue around town.
The 69ers tenpin bowling league has been around for many years and the group bowls at Moorabbin Bowling Centre every Thursday.

INFO: www.werribeebowl.com.au