On May 23rd 2015, Ireland emerged onto the world stage as one of the friendliest countries for same-sex couples. In a landslide result, at a ratio of almost 2:1, we became the first country to legalise gay marriage by popular vote. While we were not the first country to legalise same-sex marriage, we were the first to make a constitutional amendment to do so, taking the issue to referendum, and voting on it. Just over a month later, the United States Supreme Court declared gay marriage legal in all 50 states. Slowly but surely, gay marriage is being legalised worldwide, granting homosexual couples the same marital rights afforded to their heterosexual counterparts.
A further indication of Ireland’s accepting attitude towards the community is the massive surge in numbers attending Pride marches in recent years. In 2010 there were approximately 22,000 participants in the Pride Parade, while in 2015, just five years later, this figure almost tripled, with approximately 65,000 taking part. The popularity of the parade, especially when coupled with the result of the recent referendum, suggests a country largely united in support of the gay community. What then accounts for the rise in recent years of sports clubs billed as catering for those identifying as LGBT? Although in the past widespread homophobia, especially in sporting circles, alienated potential players from the ranks of clubs nationwide, this no longer seems to be the case. Do these clubs have a place in modern day Ireland?
“Although we’ve come a long way on LGBT issues, particularly in the last year, there’s still progress to be made and I think DFR helps with this when we put on our DFR running tops and show we’re just runners, same as everyone else”
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Dublin Front Runners Athletics Club considers itself as “a running club for gay lesbian, bisexual, trans runners, and [our] friends,” according to its website. It was set up in January 2005, and celebrated its tenth birthday with a large party earlier this year. It has been registered with the Athletics Association of Ireland, and International Frontrunners for years, and regularly takes part in AAI registered races. The club has about 180 runners, and can have up to 60 runners on their weekly runs on Wednesdays and Saturdays.
Andy Chambers, Chairman of Dublin Front Runners, believes that there is still a place for LGBT sports clubs, as much of the LGBT community’s activities tends to revolve around clubbing and consuming alcohol. LGBT sports clubs however, “offer an alternative way to participate in the LGBT community that’s healthy, and perhaps more relaxed”. Chambers continues “we try to foster a healthy, athletic and social experience for all our members”. On a weekly basis the club hosts “runners of all levels […]enjoying a healthy activity, with some just running for fun and others training seriously for various events”. An important ritual for club members is a visit to the nearby cafe for post-workout tea and cake introducing a social team element to this ordinarily solitary sport.
Chambers acknowledges that while there has been a lot of progress recently in the field of LGBT issues, there is still further to go. “Although we’ve come a long way on LGBT issues, particularly in the last year, there’s still progress to be made and I think DFR helps with this when we put on our DFR running tops and show we’re just runners, same as everyone else”.
The club distinguishes itself from other athletic clubs in more ways than one, taking huge pride in their charitable endeavours. “A big part of our club is giving something back to the community,” explains Chambers. “We do this mainly through our Dublin Pride Run which runs during the Pride Festival and over the course of the last 4 years we’ve raised €22,000 for various charities.” This year’s Pride Run was a huge success, with nearly 400 runners participating on the night, and Senator Katherine Zappone officially starting the race.
Pink Ladies Hockey Club has gone from strength to strength in recent years. They have represented Ireland in the international Pink Hockey community for the last five seasons. The squad has been extremely successful in the past few years, winning bronze at the 2011 Eurogames in Rotterdam and a host of gold and silver medals at the Dublin Pink Hockey Fest in 2012. The club continued to succeed and were silver and bronze medalists at the 2013 World OutGames in Antwerp as well as silver and bronze medals at London Pink Hockey fest. Finally, they won both silver and bronze at the 2015 Eurogames in Stockholm. Needless to say, the Pink Ladies Hockey Club has been excelling in all aspects since its foundation in 2011.
“All sports teams are communities – you are part of the Roscommon GAA team because you like GAA and are from Roscommon; you attend the World Medical Football championships as part of the Royal College of Surgeons football team because you like football and are a doctor; you go to the World Police and Fire Games to play dodgeball because you are a police officer and you like dodgeball!”
When asked about the exclusive nature of LGBT sports teams, current club captain, Amy O’Connell, states that the “Pink Ladies is absolutely an inclusive club and welcomes people from the entire LGBT community”. The supportive nature of the Pink Ladies has been very helpful for many of its members over the years, and O’Connell believes that this has helped many members struggling with confidence issues to come out.
“This year has been an outstanding year for LGBT rights in Ireland and the message from the Irish people of warmth and acceptance has been phenomenal and made a real difference to all Irish families. It forced discussions to happen at the dinner table that had maybe never come up before and has made it significantly easier for so many people to be comfortable about who they are and coming out to their family. There is still however an adjustment period and having a space where you can be surrounded by people who are comfortable with their sexuality, have told their families, have had good and bad reactions but lived to tell the tale is very important,” she adds.
O’Connell also emphasises that LGBT sports teams are more than just a team, they are a community, and communities have always been, and likely always will be, involved in sport. “All sports teams are communities – you are part of the Roscommon GAA team because you like GAA and are from Roscommon; you attend the World Medical Football championships as part of the Royal College of Surgeons football team because you like football and are a doctor; you go to the World Police and Fire Games to play dodgeball because you are a police officer and you like dodgeball! Even now that Ireland has shown itself to be supportive of the LGBT community – there will always be communities involved in sports. Ours is people from or accepting of the LGBT community who love hockey. We go to tournaments with 250 other SLGBT hockey players from around the world, it’s a great way to make new friends and have good craic!”
Dublin Devils Football Club was founded in 2005, when one of their founding members returned to Ireland from the UK. Having seen the growing number of gay-friendly football teams there, as well as the Gay Football Supporters Network (GFSN) he contemplated founding an Irish equivalent. After investigating and finding nothing similar on the scene here, he placed an ad in the Gay Community News hoping to organise a kickabout with other gay men. Nine showed up for that first kick around, and it quickly grew from there. Later that year, the members officially founded the club as Dublin Devils F.C.
According to John McAree, the club’s public relations officer, the main motivation for setting the club up was to provide an outlet missing from the gay scene in Dublin. “At the time, many players would not have felt comfortable being out at other clubs. We have also always provided football for those who would not necessarily be able to play with other clubs, as we cater for everyone from absolute beginners to very experienced players. Aside from providing football for all, we are also a very social bunch and organise regular events and nights out for members.”
They also wish to emphasise that they do not discriminate against non-LGBT players wishing to join. “We are not an LGBT-exclusive club, and currently have a number of straight players in our ranks. We are an LGBT and inclusive club who welcome anyone who has a love of football, or who just wants to get fit, be part of a club and maybe meet new people.”
He further reiterates Amy’s point that they represent their community like other local clubs, “most football teams have their origins within a local community. While we don’t have a local community per se, we do represent the LGBT community itself.”
Brian Healy, the Emerald Warriors Rugby Club President, also agrees with this point. “Our sense of community is not geographical, it’s through our LGBT identity, which we feel needs to be represented. Our club provides an outlet for our community to participate in sport, like any other local club. But it is important to note that we are not exclusive, we have lots of straight members and members from all kinds of backgrounds, and we enjoy the diversity that brings.”
“Our sense of community is not geographical, it’s through our LGBT identity”
The club recognises the importance of a social side to involvement, especially now during the Rugby World Cup. “We’re holding events in the George (our Sponsors) for the Rugby World Cup,” explains Healy, “and have some fundraising attached. We get together and have a beer, some pizza and watch the match together. Most of the club members are there with family and friends, all for good fun, bit of banter and craic while cheering on the Boys In Green!”
The club was set up in 2003, by Richie Whyte, as an outlet for LGBT men to play rugby in a more comfortable environment, especially those who did not play rugby when they were younger or who were not attached to any other club.
Sarah Gallagher, the club secretary further explains the dynamic of the club itself. “As with any group we have ups and downs in numbers. The initial group of players have mostly retired from playing and we currently have a team composed almost entirely of guys who had never played before two months ago. In total we have 55 members in the club and this looks to continue to grow. We welcome anyone who wants to come and be part of the team, whether as a player or as a supporter/ Pavilion member, whether gay, straight or other. A love of rugby is the main criteria!”
The club takes part in many different leagues, and hosts events too. “We play in the Leinster League Division which is a Development Division. We also play in the biannual Bingham Cup and hosted it in Dublin in 2008, and we play alternate years in the European Union Cup, which are both gay competitions.”
“Even with the referendum I guess it’s still not easy for an adult who hasn’t played before to join a club where they probably don’t know anybody. A lot of clubs are aligned to schools and colleges so guys join young and grow up together. As it is, we have the best of both worlds – we provide a sporting outlet for LGBT people who probably wouldn’t otherwise play rugby in an inclusive environment where everyone is welcome regardless of sexuality, playing straight and other teams over the years, making life long friends and having great craic in a safe environment!”
Most of the clubs agree that the need for LGBT sports clubs has not diminished since the passing of the marriage equality referendum. Brian Sheehan, the director of GLEN, sums up the continuing need for the presence of these LGBT clubs. “The referendum result was extraordinary, and it will and already has made a difference in many people’s lives, but it is not the end point. The end point is where being L or G or B or T is unremarkable. Ireland has made huge progress on that journey but we aren’t there yet. Many people in Ireland have been rejected by their family and in their schools for years, and discovered who they are in an atmosphere that isn’t positive and is even hostile. Many people are excluded, and there are consequences for that. So there is a long way to go, until being L/G is unremarkable, where people can participate in any sports teams they want based solely on their ability, and not hide who they”.
He goes on to say that although many sporting organisations have shown their support for the LGBT community, particularly in the marriage referendum, most Irish sporting organisations do not take a proactive role, and that is the crux of what is lacking in local sporting organisations, and is present in LGBT clubs.
“There is something else that people need, which is that their sports team will fully support them. Until these other bodies take a proactive role, LGBT people don’t know if they are fully safe and fully welcome in that organisation, and these LGBT clubs offer just that.”
All clubs mentioned in this article are always eager to recruit new members. If you are interested, you can contact them through their websites or Facebook pages.
www.dublinfrontrunners.ie
www.pinkladieshockey.com
www.dublindevilsfc.com
www.facebook.com/emeraldwarriors
