SPORTING PRIDE

Martin Murray

SPORTING PRIDE NETWORKING DAY

We kicked off our 2023 calendar with Sporting Prides first Belfast based AGM. We followed this with a networking event with the venue provided by Carafriend. We gathered representatives from Female Sports Forum, Belfast Azlans, Sport NI, Active Women NI and Aeracha Uladh GAC and developed ideas for collaboration and growth.

Soon after we discovered a group call NI Gay Golf had started in Omagh with hopes of branching across Ulster so we arranged to make plans to develop the team and then we heard from a new friend looking to start an LGBTQ Tennis club, both of which should be fully up and running in 2023.

Another great thing to come from this meeting was plans for an LGBTQ Women’s Sports Day. The original project is a collaboration with Sporting Pride, Active Women NI and Female Sports Forum but since announcing the project we have been joined by Basketball NI, Ulster LGFA, Ulster Camogie, Transgender NI, Here NI, Cooke RFC, Cooke warriors and others.

Ulster LGBTQ Women’s Sports day

This will be a celebration of Ulster sports and of all women in Ulster. It’s the first event of its kind in the province but I thought it was necessary to celebrate a community that provides so much to its industry with very little recognition or funding for that matter. The event will run on May 28th and more information can be found at @Ulster_LGBTQ_Sports_Day on Instagram or by contacting Sporting Pride or myself.

Participants at the event will be invited to continue their evening at Cherry Belfast presented by Elaine at Boombox Belfast from 10pm, May 28th. Making this an entire day and night of celebrating the LGBTQ Women of Ulster.

GNI Awards

GNI Award were incredible, the food was delicious, entertainment was on fire and I got to spend most of the evening with Storm and Carl ConnieLingus which is all anyone needs to have a good time. I was delighted to receive so many nominations and votes from Drag Queens, Athletes and NGB’s across the country but just as delighted to see Micky Murray win on the night. Also delighted to see Magee Health and Fitness win for inclusive Gym. Over all it was just great to have a little break from work to just celebrate. The week before I also joined Quire Belfast on their Ballylinny trip which was a mix of pure joy and relaxation with choreography, singing, drinking games and celebrating old friends and new friends.

Eurovision

Our next big event is our annual Eurovision fundraiser in Doyles Corner in Dublin. Last year I attended as Danú Variant alongside two other Belfast Drag Queens, Melody Festivalen who ended the night with a few iconic Eurovision performances and dancing the night away with The Count Bella

Lublowsi. This year we are starting the vent with a show hosted by Dublin’s Grainne Kneez. Everyone gets a free gin and tonic and then you get to watch the Eurovision Finale alongside 200 LGBTQ sports team members. Last year was amazing so this year we have doubled the size of the space, doubled the guests and we have over 20 big screens so you won’t miss a moment of Eurovision. All funds raised are put back into the LGBTQ Sports teams who deserve your support as part of our LGBTQ Community. I think people forget the work that these athletes are doing to open doors for other LGBTQ People and to make this country more inclusive.

Coming Soon

The summer will then be sent getting the National Governing bodies and LGBTQ Sports teams involved in Prides across Ireland and helping the new teams getting up and running. Some of the teams have incredible opportunities coming up such as Na Gaeil Aeracha who have a groundbreaking event coming in July that I will discuss in my next issue and the Frontrunners who now have five locations across Ireland. Following the Belfast marathon I had the pleasure of hosting over 80 LGBTQ Runners at Maverick Bar Belfast from The Ulster Frontrunners, Dublin Frontrunners and Glasgow Frontrunners who flew in for the race.

I will also be taking lectures at Ulster University and Stranmilis University on Diversity in Sports. I am also excited about my first international trip as part of Sporting Pride representing Ireland at the Be Active Sports contact meeting organised by the Romanian Ministry of Sport, in partnership with the Romanian National Agency in Bucharest in July. After this I will be back to plan Ulster’s 2nd LGBTQ Sports Day once again in collaboration with Ulster University Belfast and of course our Belfast Pride events.

POSITIVE LIFE NI - STRICTLY AT THE MOVIES

For those of you still not ready to jump right in to team sports you can also come and bring your dancing shoes to The Crowne Plaza at Shaw Bridge where I am honoured to be a guest judge for the night. Proceeds from the night will go into vital work supporting people living with HIV. For more information contact Positive Life Ni and please save the last dance for me.

Instagram: @TheMartinMurray