LGBTQ SPORTS Martin Murray

I was delighted to have the committee from Sporting Pride visit Belfast for the first time on the 25th February. We were delighted to be hosted at the LGBTQ Centre thanks to Adam Murray and Carafriend and met with guests from Sports NI, The Green Party, Alliance Party, The IFA, Ulster Frontrunners, The Lagan Mermaids, Belfast Blaze. This was followed by a delicious dinner in Union Street and some entertainment at The Maverick.

It was a real honor seeing those who have got us to this point gathered together and to truly understand that a large community with hundreds of members from across Northern Ireland now exists practicing a number of sports to change statistics and get us to a place where the LGBTQ community are just as active and live as healthy a lifestyle as heterosexuals.

Remember you are all welcome to get involved no matter your gender, age, sexuality, race, religion, schedule or even budget we have a place to support all LGBTQ people looking to improve their physical and mental health. You can get in touch with Sporting Pride by emailing martin.murray@ sportingpride.ie or via their Instagram @ SportingPride.

Ulster Frontrunners

The Ulster Front runners have had an incredible first five months exploring park runs across the city and raising funds for

Positive Life NI, Northern Irelands HIV Charity. This April 30th Ulster Frontrunners will have their biggest moment yet competing in the Belfast City Marathon followed by a party in Union Street with Frontrunners from across Ireland and the UK in a collaboration with Glasgow Frontrunners. On top of those completing the Team Relay in support of Dementia NI, a few of our members will be competing in the race and in other races across the UK that day kicking of a summer of events including the LGBTQ Sports Day and Belfast Pride. As the group grows, we adapt to our members with a variety of sessions available to new runners through couch to 5k and longer distance runs to build stamina and speed. You can get in touch with Ulster Frontrunners by emailing martin.murray@ sportingpride.ie or via their Instagram @UlsterFrontrunners.

The Lagan Mermaids

The Lagan Mermaids are proud to have found a home with Lagan Scullers. We will be apart of Lagan Scullers club but will continue to support and celebrate all LGBTQ Rowers via our Instagram, what’s app group and some socials throughout the year. Rowing has always been quite an elitist closed off sport to outsiders however that has changed in recent years, and we look forward to further supporting that change through our work with Rowing Ireland who have been a great cheerleader for our organization. You can get in touch with The Lagan Mermaids by emailing martin. murray@sportingpride.ie or via their Instagram @TheLaganMermaids.

The Declan Flynn Cup

Sporting Pride were proud to contribute a small contribution towards Dublin Devils transport to Belfast for the first leg of the Declan Flynn Cup which was won 3-1 to Dublin Devils against Belfast Blaze. Sporting Pride will also contribute some funds towards Belfast Blaze when they travel to Dublin for the final leg of the Declan Flynn Club. Both clubs have done themselves proud and the community keeping the memory of Declan Flynn alive, and it was great to see a small crowd of football supporters in the stands with me watching the match. You can reach out to Belfast Blaze via Instagram @ BelfastBlaze or Dublin Devils Instagram @ DublinDevils

Swimming

The Rainbow Project NI supported by Citi will be organizing swimming sessions at the end of every month specifically for transgender members of our community. All ages welcome. Normally on the last Saturday of every month. Email ren@ rainbow-project.org for more info, to get added to the mailing list, or to book your spot! You can contact The Rainbow Project @TRPNI.

Belfast Azlan’s

At the start of the year, I had the privilege of joining Belfast Azlans for their first training of 2023. The team was very welcoming as we trained up at Jordanstown next to Ophir RFCs team. The coaches were patient and clear in their guidance and everyone from the team went out of their way to make sure I knew exactly what I should be doing and had patience as I learnt. They were very welcoming for me to come back. I have also enjoyed seeing the team down at maverick for the six nations alongside a varied group of lesbians, transgender people and allies which is great to see as queer spaces are often filled with primarily gay men with not a lot of room for lesbians and the trans community. You can reach out to Belfast Azlans on Instagram @BelfastAzlans

Finally, I look forward to welcoming you all to several events we are currently planning to include a women’s sports day, a second LGBTQ Sports day during Ulster of University freshers and sport related Pride events across Ireland including Belfast, Omagh and Dublin. Let’s continue the journey to make this country the most inclusive in the world and one day host a Gay World Games or Eurogames hosting thousands of queer athletes from across the world in our beautiful country.