PRIDE IN
HELLHOUNDS RUGBY CLUB
CORK RACKETEERS
LINQ IRELAND REBELS SOCCER
I came out as gay at 15, was on my LGBTQ society board in college and marched in Pride parades for over a decade. So, I’ve lived with Pride for the majority of my life now. Sport is something I was never into as a kid, so joining the Hellhounds in my 30s was initially quite daunting. But the team and supporters have made it such an amazing experience, making new friends, training, travelling and getting stuck in. The Hellhounds have helped me find Pride in sport. - Brian, Hellhounds Rugby Club Last year, I joined the Cork Hellhounds tag rugby team to try something new and connect with new people. From day one, the team has been incredibly welcoming, and I genuinely look forward to every training session. To me, pride in sport means creating an inclusive environment where everyone can enjoy the game, regardless of their background or skill level. The Hellhounds provide a safe and supportive space to grow as a player, develop your skills, and express yourself openly among teammates and coaches. - Alice, Hellhounds Rugby Club
Settlng in a new city is hard, especially when it comes to making new friends. Joining the club offered me the opportunity to bond with new people. I had a chance to smile awkwardly, to introduce myself and to hold a badminton racket for the first time. By joining a LGBTQIA+ inclusive club, I could start building meaningful connections without feeling nervous about my sexual orientation. I could be me from the very first start. I could laugh without restraint. I was safe. Cork has become my home and it is entirely because of this amazing badminton club. - Michele Squillaci, Cork Racketeers I never liked playing sports growing up. I tried my hand at Gaelic, hurling and soccer. But they were never for me. Being “different” meant it was always hard to bond with the other boys on the team, and for a long time I was proud to say that I retired from sport at Under 10s. But now that I’m older, I’m so happy that I discovered Cork Racketeers. I’ve learned that playing sports isn’t so intimidating after all. Joining has been so good for both my physical and mental health and it’s also been a really nice way to make LGBTQIA+ friends outside of the bar or apps. - Padraig Muldoon, Cork Racketeers
As the coach of LINQ Ireland Rebels Soccer, Cork’s women and non-binary soccer team, I can’t highlight enough the importance of a safe space to enjoy the sport you love as the person you are. That’s why we prioritise enjoyment, accessibility, and inclusivity; to celebrate our club of diverse and friendly players. We take PRIDE in this, our openness to new players within the LBTQ+ community, and being able to represent Cork in matches with other women and non-binary teams across Ireland. - Soph, LINQ Ireland Rebels Soccer
By Dean Kinsella
what your LGBTQ+ inclusive sports club has achieved and what you have built together. Many team sports clubs and organisations have a reputation for enforcing heteronormative behaviour and often are seen as being outright discriminative towards LGBTQ+. The reality however is very different. Recent surveys of players from several amateur and professional sports clubs have revealed that although the majority of players were unaware of LGBTQ+ people on their team, the overwhelming majority of them would welcome and support an LGBTQ+ player. Thankfully times are changing, and attitudes are not what they once were. Although there is an increasing amount of
LGBTQ+ inclusive sports clubs around, much more can be done to create these safe spaces and promote visibility of LGBTQ+ people in sports. Increased visibility creates increased awareness, which leads to better understanding and a more supportive and inclusive community, not just across the LGBTQ+ community but also across our sporting community. Taking part in a Pride parade as part of your sports club is a celebration of this diversity and increases the visibility of these communities. It also encourages those that might need some inspiration to join a club, and may even convince those that need a change in perspective and attitude.
WHAT IS PRIDE IN SPORT? For most, participating in any kind public Pride event can be very daunting, especially your first one. However, marching in Pride is our opportunity to promote and celebrate
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