SPORT - MARTIN MURRAY

A NEW YEAR A NEW CHALLENGE

In the last four months Inclusive Football Belfast has continued to grow in numbers. The team have played in many parts of Belfast making it accessible to all, and the communities have been incredibly welcoming, even to the point of cheering the team on.

As numbers grow so does the teams drive. They now run development sessions on Sunday mornings to help get newcomers more comfortable with the sport and help regular players build on their skill set. On top of this the team will be playing their first competitive game in a friendly against the Dublin Devils, who I believe are Ireland’s first LGBTQ inclusive, running for 15 years. The Dublin Devils have been extremely welcoming to the Belfast team and to myself on my visits down to Dublin and the teams look forward to building a relationship so that LGBTQ people in every county in Ireland have access to the team sport.

The team has several gay, bisexual and straight allies on the pitch and off and they are delighted for newcomers to get involved no matter where you fall on the LGBTQA spectrum. I’ve also joined the team in some of their social outings and found it a great place to enjoy the sport around like-minded people.

If you have an interest in playing football or even just watching and enjoying the sport then get in touch, come down to their Dublin Game on the 8th February or drop by either of their weekly sessions.

You can get in touch by visiting the teams Facebook Inclusive Football Belfast, NI or on Instagram @InclusiveFootballBelfast or visit my own Instagram @ AwayWithTheFairiesAWTF to see weekly photo and video updates as well as some ‘fun‘ posts teaching football terms to those with no football knowledge.

DRAGGING UP THE PAST

2020 WAS KICKED OFF WITH a trip to London’s first Drag Con, celebrating all things diverse. Originally the plan was to attend a match with the London Titans which was called off due to unsuitable pitch conditions so instead I spent a few more hours exploring what Drag Con had to offer. This included a conversation with Morgan McMichaels on the importance of inclusivity, especially in sporting events which are traditionally not so inclusive. Then after catching up with friends from Azlans and a number of local Drag Queens I had a chat with the charming Brock McGillis who I plan to interview for the next issue.

Brock was at Drag Con to sit down with the Hysterical Mrs Kasha Davis and Vinegar Strokes to discuss drinking problems, internalised homophobia and the everyday shit we all go through or more importantly how to own your shit and embrace it in a segment called ‘This Is Shit.’ Kasha let us know how he was previously closeted and married to a woman and developed alcoholism. Brock also openly spoke about being a closeted professional hockey player who was suicidal and a womaniser.

You can catch recorded episodes of ‘This Is Shit’ on Wow Presents. Brock McGillis is the first openly gay professional hockey player in the world. Having previously played professionally in both the United States and Europe, Brock now uses his platform as an advocate for the LGBTQ community speaking at numerous schools, corporations and other events. He also provides inclusivity training for companies, a technique growing across the western world as companies learn they can develop better quality services and products through inclusive teams.

Brocks’ mission is to “create equality regardless of sexuality, gender and race while focusing on the language we use and how we can shift it to become more inclusive.” I look forward to speaking to him and introducing you to more of his ideas in the next issue. I will also feature some tips from RuPaul’s Brit crew.

HAWT TO NAWT

HAWT

ARGENTINIAN GOALKEEPER, NAHUEL GUZMÁN, DYES HAIR RAINBOW IN SUPPORT OF ACCEPTANCE FOR THE LGBTQ COMMUNITY WHICH HE SHOWED PROUDLY WHILE PLAYING AT LIGA BBVA MX, MEXICO’S TOP TIER FOOTBALL LEAGUE ON JANUARY 11TH.

FIGURE SKATER MATT EVERS PARTNERS WITH IAN ‘H’ WATKINS FOR DANCING ON ICE MAKING THEM THE FIRST SAME SEX COUPLE TO EVER COMPETE.

NAWT

REPUBLICAN STATE REP. BARBARA EHARDT PLANS TO INTRODUCE ANTI-TRANSGENDER LEGISLATION AGAINST TRANS STUDENT ATHLETES IN THIS SESSION OF THE IDAHO LEGISLATURE.

BRIGHTON-CHELSEA: FANS ARRESTED FOR ALLEGED RACISM AND HOMOPHOBIA AT AMEX STADIUM.