Q: What song always gets you pumped up before a big game or event? A: This is very hard as it changes all the time! Ones I have been listening to recently are Not Like Us/All the Stars by Kendrick Lamar, Denial is a River by Doechii, or Joker and the Thief by Wolfmother. Q: What message would you share with LGBTQ+ athletes embracing their authentic selves? A: It takes a lot of bravery to be your authentic self within sport. For those who feel alone, you are paving the way for a more inclusive and diverse environment. Your identity doesn’t change your talent, passion, or place within the sport, but it does create a space for others to feel seen and know they are not alone. NEVER UNDERESTIMATE THE IMPACT YOU HAVE ON YOUR TEAMMATES, CLUB, AND THE NEXT GENERATION OF LGBTQ+ ATHLETES. Q: How can allies support LGBTQ+ folks in your realm of sport? A: There are many ways allies can support, but I think the main aspects are education. For example, learn about LGBTQ+ experiences in sport and use of inclusive language in conversation. You can become vocal in your support, by calling out homophobia and discrimination when it happens. And finally, just be a trusted friend to your teammates - for players that are not out yet - so respect their journey and be a safe person they can confide in.
both at home and abroad. And while a phenomenal read, not to mind its importance, I’m going to plump for Proud, the autobiography of former Welsh Rugby international Gareth Thomas. Such incredible honesty with regard to the depths he struggled before coming to accept his sexuality. Q: What message would you share to LGBTQ+ athletes embracing their authentic selves? A: To focus exclusively on the positives. There’s always the chance of a negative or disrespectful comment being passed in your sporting environment, and while by all means engage if you believe it will be constructive, on the whole, have your cup filled by those rallying teammates, opponents, supporters, and coaches. YOUR COURAGE DESERVES ITS MOMENT. Q: How can allies support LGBTQ+ folks in your realm of sport? A: Those in the press box and the wider sports media industry that are aware of my sexuality are nothing but supportive and respectful of such. The main point to make is I’ve never been made to feel different because of who I am. * All of the LGBTQ+ trail blazers featured here will take part in a special Cork Pride Festival sports panel discussion, Fearless Future: Celebrating LGBTQ+ Trailblazers and Allies in Irish Sport, taking place on Wednesday, July 30 at 7.30pm at The River Lee Hotel, Cork. Admission is free, but tickets must be booked in advance via Eventmaster.ie. Early booking is highly recommended, as spaces are limited.
NAME: VALERIE MULCAHY SPORT: LADIES GAELIC FOOTBALL FROM: CORK PRONOUNS: SHE/HER
Q: What’s the most empowering part of being a member of the LGBTQ+ community? A: I no longer have to live two different lives. I can completely be myself and be fully accepted with no judgement from the LGBTQ+ community. I have come out on my own terms, and took control of the narrative. Above all, it has been liberating to be able to express my authentic self on, and off, the football pitch. Q: What’s a moment in your sports journey that made you feel proud of your LGBTQ+ identity? A: When I came out and decided to go back to playing Gaelic football. For years, I felt like I wasn’t playing to my full potential as all I could think about was ‘being gay’, and people finding out. However, now I am just there to play football with a clear mind and I feel it shows on the pitch as I am finally making an impact on my team. I feel that you can do all the training in the world, but if your head is not in it, then you won’t be giving it your all. This has also led to my story being shared online across social media, on television, and on radio which has allowed people from across the world to reach out to share their own story with me. They have all been in, or still are in, the same position I was in. I hope that my story can help support and encourage them to be their true authentic selves, and know how good it can be once you come out. NAME: KEVIN PENROSE SPORT: GAELIC FOOTBALL, WILD IRISH WANDERER, TRAVEL CONTENT CREATOR FROM: AGHYARAN, TYRONE PRONOUNS: HE/HIM
NAME: FIONA HAYES SPORT: RUGBY FROM: LIMERICK PRONOUNS: SHE/HER
NAME: EOGHAN CORMICAN SPORT: SPORTS JOURNALIST FOR THE IRISH EXAMINER FROM: GALWAY PRONOUNS: HE/HIM
Q: What’s the most empowering part of being a member of the LGBTQ+ community? A: There is a great community of strong, open-minded individuals that together make a community. I love that everyone has a unique story about their ‘coming out ‘ that when shared, creates a fantastic connection. Q: What’s a moment in your sports journey that made you feel proud of your LGBTQ+ identity? A: I was very proud to be involved in the GAA walking in the first Dublin Pride Parade in 2019. It was a really special moment. Q: What song always gets you pumped up before a big game or event? A: The Dog Days Are Over by Florence and the Machine. Q: What message would you share with LGBTQ+ athletes embracing their authentic selves? BE TRUE TO YOURSELF; THE HAPPIER YOU ARE THE BETTER YOU’LL PLAY! Q: How can allies support LGBTQ+ folks in your realm of sport? A: To watch their language and be aware of the power of words. Also, to challenge negative talk, and any slagging you might hear and call it out.
Q: What’s the most empowering part of being a member of the LGBTQ+ community? A: Feeling valued and connected with people that share my beliefs. Q: What song always gets you pumped up before a big game or event? A: I used to love 212 by Azelia Banks when I was playing. Now, I’m happy with a bit of Kendrick Lamar as a coach; no dancing needed! Q: What message would you share with LGBTQ+ athletes embracing their authentic selves? USE ALL THE ENERGY YOU GET FROM BEING YOURSELF AND ADD IT TO THE SPORT YOU PLAY. Negative and positive energy can help you be the best version of your sporting self, so embrace it all! Q: How can allies support LGBTQ+ folks in your realm of sport? A: Speak up on visible injustice. Sometimes it’s easy to not call things out, especially if you have a voice in your sporting arena. It’s important to use it.
Q: What’s the most empowering part of being a member of the LGBTQ+ community? A: This will read as a stock answer, no doubt, but it is that sense of belonging. That undeniable sense that this is your community, your people. I have other communities in my life, but neither am I ignorant to the fact that people feel precluded from certain spaces because of their sexual orientation and how they identify. This is one community of immediate acceptance. Even though all our respective journeys are different, there is commonality in that we all went on that journey. Q: What’s a moment in sport that made you feel proud of your LGBTQ+ identity? A: You are always seeking progression and the normalising of male athletes, irrespective of their sport, opening up about their sexuality. Too many sports, unfortunately, still have a distance to travel, including, of course, the GAA at inter-county level. As I type this at the beginning of April, American 1,500m runner and Olympic bronze medalist Yared Nuguse has very recently come out. With each revealing social media post and newspaper headline, the coming out of a sportsperson is less a story and more an everyday occurrence. Exactly as we want it. Q: Your favourite book that deals with both sport and the LGBTQ+ community? A: Donal Óg Cusack’s autobiography, Come What May, released in October of 2009, was trailblazing
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