As the marriage referendum draws nearer, Irish people are left to contemplate not only the issue of matrimony, but the broader narrative of attitudes towards gay people in our society.
The macho atmosphere that once permeated certain sports has been challenged in recent times. But still some members of the sporting world are looked upon as a “tough crowd” when it comes to LGBT acceptance.
It’s only in recent times that high-profile sportspeople such as former German international footballer Thomas Hitzlsperger, retired Welsh rugby full-back Gareth Thomas and Olympic diver Tom Daley have begun to speak candidly about their sexuality. Unfortunately, nasty homophobic taunts from a vocal minority of spectators usually follow.
If homophobes have no qualms about attacking sports stars who have come out amid the camera glare of the world’s media, is the level of intimidation amplified for gay Saturday league footballers?
“It’s generally not really a problem,” says Alan Keating, a coach and player with Dublin Devils, Ireland’s only gay men’s football club. “Once or twice people said something, and then they came back after the game and apologised because, they said, ‘I was frustrated. We were losing 3-2 and I didn’t know what to do’. They were more offended by their own actions than we were.”
The club, which celebrates its 10th anniversary this year, came about after members of Dublin's gay community got together for kickabouts in Tallaght. Since then, the Leinster Football League Major Division side has flourished.
“For the first years when we were playing in the Leinster leagues, the other teams didn’t know what to expect,” says Keating. “They didn’t know what was going to come out of the dressing room. They may even have expected Panti Bar to come out.
“About three years ago there was a camera down to one of our training sessions, and about three-quarters of our team had to disappear because they weren’t used to it. But once they started this process of playing in the Leinster leagues, they got real confidence, and that doesn’t happen any more.”
At a team training session on Pearse Street’s all-weather pitches, Keating says that any illusion other clubs have of the Devils being a soft side because of its players’ sexual orientation are confounded by their intensely physical style of play, which many opponents fail to match.
A glance around the field reveals a multiplicity of body shapes and personalities, which reflects the attitude of inclusivity espoused by the team.
“We have players who play competitively; quite standard, macho guys,” says chairman Bill O’Rourke, keeping a watchful eye on players from the sidelines, as he does almost every Wednesday. “We have guys who are the more effeminate-type gay man, and maybe they’re not as likely to play on the competitive side of things but they play where they’re comfortable within the club.
“That’s something we want to be open about, making sure everybody’s included in the sport, because it’s a great game to play and it’s great for your state of mind.”
O’Rourke emphasises that straight players are welcomed into the setup along with people from an LGBT background.
Therapeutic
Ewan Alan Hughes (26), a winger for the Devils, found that his association with the club cultivated an almost therapeutic openness with team-mates, which gave him the impetus to tell his family about his sexuality.
“It’s been a huge change coming into a team like this,” he says. “Not to say anything against my old team in Belfast, but playing with these guys, and being gay, I feel a lot more confident and comfortable around them.
"The old secretary, Eoghan Martin, helped me in a huge way to come out to my family in Carrickfergus," says Hughes. "I was born in Wales. I have family in Wales as well, and Danny, the other Welsh guy on the team, came over with me last weekend and helped me to come out to my family over there, so it's helped me hugely in my life."
He says it is heartening to see famous sports stars coming out, but such announcements must be made for the right reasons. “I don’t see the point in someone coming out just for the sake of coming out, but I can see the benefit it would give if high-profile players who were still playing would come out.
“For people like myself growing up and being gay, I was a bit afraid to join the football. I think the situation has changed for the better. Now that it’s actually being spoken about it’s a lot better.”
Hughes won’t be able to vote in next month’s referendum, but he believes a Yes vote can do nothing but good for the gay community.
Although club members are overwhelmingly supportive of the prospective amendment, O’Rourke believes personal or political convictions have no place on the pitch.
“I think there’s a slight misconception as to what we’re doing and why we’re doing it,” he says. “From my point of view as chairman, I look on the gay community as a community just like any other community. Sport is sport, and it’s not really a place where you’re trying to make major statements about other things.”
“That said, we don’t see next month’s vote as a political thing; it’s a cultural community thing for us, and everybody has different opinions, even in the gay community. But there’s a broad, general demand there for equality and, as a simple sign of respect, we would expect that to be recognised.”
O’Rourke is looking forward to the positive effects a Yes vote could bring to people in the club. “There are a number of players who have met their partners at the club, and there are a number of players who have long-term partners who may consider pressing ahead and taking advantage of a Yes vote.
“It will be a good day out. We look forward to the first full-marriage wedding taking place over the next year some time.”
