Gay in the GAA?

Caiseoipe19

I was just wondering if people think there are many gay guys that play GAA for their club. Does anybody here know gay players or are gay players themselves? I'm gay, although not openly, and I still play for my local club but I don't know of any others around the place...just curious as to whether or not there are many other GAA players out there among the gay community or are we a rare breed?;):cool:

foggy_lad

Cygnus wrote: »

I was just wondering if people think there are many gay guys that play GAA for their club. Does anybody here know gay players or are gay players themselves? I'm gay, although not openly, and I still play for my local club but I don't know of any others around the place...just curious as to whether or not there are many other GAA players out there among the gay community or are we a rare breed?;):cool:

Plenty of gay people play both men and women but possibly the whole macho image of sports or the unhealthy connections to the catholic church have meant it is unhealthy for anyone to be openly gay in the gaa and would lead to campaigns of whispers and opportunities missed that would have otherwise been available. Remember that many people get their jobs, houses etc through the gaa and the networking done through the organisation leads to many other opportunities, so doing something that upsets even one low down selector or county/club organiser could have serious repercussions.

I would have the utmost respect and admiration for anyone who has the courage to come out in the gaa.

ninty9er

The most obvious example, also someone you could contact for advice on coming out in the GAA, is Sean óg Cusack. I've heard him speak briefly about what it was like to do it.

It may be as beneficial to have some of his teammates from that time to ask too. They're not unapproachable people.

ongarboy

Sean Og also had an autobiography released last year which details his coming out in the GAA environment (and generally). It might be worth picking up a copy.

Caraville

Just to clarify, it's not Sean Og, it's Donal Og (ye're probably mixing Donal Og Cusack with Seán Og O hAilpín).

Wouldn't be the biggest fan of Donal Og Cusack's as an individual, but as a gay man in the GAA I have the utmost admiration for his bravery and honesty- there needs to be more of that not just in the GAA, but in society in general.

Easy for me to say I suppose- I'm straight and I'm female so I neither have to deal with the prejudice or the macho environment that a gay man in the GAA does. But I genuinely do hope that changes.

lottpaul

ongarboy wrote: »

Sean Og also had an autobiography released last year which details his coming out in the GAA environment (and generally). It might be worth picking up a copy.

It was Dónal Óg Cusack who came out. The book is quite good although most of it it deals with GAA - and especially GPA - matters.
I admire anyone who does take the step of coming out in any sporting organisation. From friends and aquaintances I've heard it's a more difficult step in team events as opposed to individual sports like tennis, golf etc.
Like coming out in any situation it challenges stereotypes and confronts prejudices. Full praise to anyone who takes the step.

ninty9er

Yup my bad, Donal óg Cusack

liamo22

i play gaa and most of the lads on my team know im gay! they dont care, i dont care jus a normal lad playin gaa

LGiamani

liamo22 wrote: »

i play gaa and most of the lads on my team know im gay! they dont care, i dont care jus a normal lad playin gaa

Fair play to you for being so honest do you sneek a peak

Paparazzo

LGiamani wrote: »

Fair play to you for being so honest do you sneek a peak

You don't have to be gay to "sneek a peak"

LGiamani

What about when they drop their shorts and you see their firm hairy bum is that gay

LGiamani

Speaking of talent anyone watching the gaelic football on TV looking good

liamo22

of course i sneek a peak

AodhDub

LGiamani wrote: »

What about when they drop their shorts and you see their firm hairy bum is that gay

liamo22 wrote: »

of course i sneek a peak

Not helping the stereotype there lads really.

Insect Overlord

AodhDub wrote: »

Not helping the stereotype there lads really.

Sure even straight guys will "sneak a peak" every so often! It's hard not to, to be honest, especially showering after training/a match. Nothing to do with stereotypes.

There are no openly gay players in the club I play for. There are rumours about one guy. Some players make jokes about it, but never to his face, and nobody goes out to offend him. Team spirit is greater than prejudice, I guess.

AodhDub

Insect Overlord wrote: »

Sure even straight guys will "sneak a peak" every so often! It's hard not to, to be honest, especially showering after training/a match. Nothing to do with stereotypes.

There are no openly gay players in the club I play for. There are rumours about one guy. Some players make jokes about it, but never to his face, and nobody goes out to offend him. Team spirit is greater than prejudice, I guess.

Well it's impossible to avoid seeing things I suppose, but I don't like the idea of guys actively checking out their team mates after the showers. I don't do it, and I wouldn't like it done to me in that situation.

Anyways, sorry for taking the thread off course. Don't want to start an argument for my first post!

I've no doubt there are many gay GAA players. It has to be one of the harder situations to come out in - true for any team sport really but particularly GAA or Soccer.

I remember Donal Og's interview on the Late Late Show, he's quite an articulate guy, who's probably changed a lot of attitudes around what might be considered a more conservative side of Irish soceity. His dad's response for example when he told him was "we'll fix you, don't worry".

T Corolla

I played GAA up until 2 yrs ago and its hard not to sneak a peak at guys considering you all naked in the room and showers. I dp'nt think sneaking a peak is all gay but some guys maybe feel insecure about their manhood and would always compare themselves to others. There was this one player on the team who was gay I think but he was the most inspirational player I'd ever known. He drove on the team and when the chips were down put he heart and soul into the game to win. He was a diastant person for as long as I known him but last year he came out to his family and now lives a normal life. The whole thing here is that a small proportion of us are different but we are all here for a reason one of his was to be a leader on a football team in the midlands.

TylerIE

T Corolla wrote: »

I played GAA up until 2 yrs ago and its hard not to sneak a peak at guys considering you all naked in the room and showers. I dp'nt think sneaking a peak is all gay but some guys maybe feel insecure about their manhood and would always compare themselves to others. There was this one player on the team who was gay I think but he was the most inspirational player I'd ever known. He drove on the team and when the chips were down put he heart and soul into the game to win. He was a diastant person for as long as I known him but last year he came out to his family and now lives a normal life. The whole thing here is that a small proportion of us are different but we are all here for a reason one of his was to be a leader on a football team in the midlands.

No clubs near me have anybody playing who is out. Two have guys who are gay but the team definately dont know.

An acquaintance in North Dublin plays (very well) for his GAA team and its not an issue. Hes fully out and has been for some time.

LGiamani

It should'nt matter what the sexual orientation of the players are if they are passionate about the game they should'nt be an issue. You could be in the GAA and the guy next to you is straight and could be having an affair with your girlfriend,which is worse?.

randylonghorn

Wouldn't have that much experience of playing GAA, but played a bit of rugby with a guy who was gay, and completely open about it, though not "in your face". Good friend of mine from college actually. As I remember it, initially there was a bit of embarrassment / uneasiness among some of the lads, not for the most part in the way you would think, but more in that people were watching what they said, and reining in the usual horseplay / slagging in case he took offence. One or two had a bit of a problem with it all right, but it came out more in the odd barbed comment, and when they realised they were getting no support from the rest of us, the opposite in fact, they dropped it.

Fairly quickly, when it became obvious that B. was well able to give and take with the slagging, and slow to take offense where he knew none was intended, things returned to normal ... actually, that's not true, with his full connivance and participation the slagging / winding up actually got much worse, and he was the usual instigator!

An incident that sticks in my mind is being out in a pub one night just before Christmas with most of that team and a few others. B. was somewhat detached from us, chatting to some guy he knew, and some smartass who wasn't with us threw a homophobic comment at him. I'll never forget yer man's face when, having turned to his companions for their admiration of his "wit", he turned back to find most of a rugby team (albeit a very amateur / for the craic one) had quietly lined up behind B. and were just standing there staring at him! Let's just say he sat down rather quickly, and became very interested in the colour of his pint!

I wish I could guarantee that everyone will have as good an experience in that respect as B. did, but I can't ... I really hope that you do, though.

crucamim

foggy_lad wrote: »

"Plenty of gay people play both men and women but possibly the whole macho image of sports or the unhealthy connections to the catholic church"

What is unhealthy about the GAA's connections with the Catholic Church?

"Remember that many people get their jobs, houses etc through the gaa"

I was not aware of that. I know that, in the area where I live, many people have been denied employment and promotions because of their connections to the GAA.

"I would have the utmost respect and admiration for anyone who has the courage to come out in the gaa."

I would not. A person's sexual orientation is a private matter - so long as it remains private. If you indulge in coat-trailing, do not yelp when you reap the reward.

Platinum2010

AodhDub wrote: »

Not helping the stereotype there lads really.

+1

randylonghorn

crucamim wrote: »

I would not. A person's sexual orientation is a private matter - so long as it remains private. If you indulge in coat-trailing, do not yelp when you reap the reward.

Ah ... so everyone who plays sports keeps, and should keep, their sexual orientation private?

Jeez, we must have been an extraordinarily dirty-minded lot so! We often discussed the girls we fancied, or had noticed at matches, or indeed (not half often enough!) had done more than notice. We never realised we were in breach of any written or unwritten policy.

Or is it just those who are gay who you would like to hide and cover up and lie?

Platinum2010

with lads and younger girls, talking abut crushes in a locker room is a common thing.
however I joined a team and we all just seem to talk about getting pissed at the weekend , sexuality doesnt really come up

crucamim

randylonghorn wrote: »

Ah ... so everyone who plays sports keeps, and should keep, their sexual orientation private?

Or is it just those who are gay who you would like to hide and cover up and lie?

Discretion is the better part of valour. If you are in Portadown, you have the right to let everybody know that you are a Catholic. That does not mean that it is wise to exercise that right.

dreamer_ire

crucamim wrote: »

Discretion is the better part of valour. If you are in Portadown, you have the right to let everybody know that you are a Catholic. That does not mean that it is wise to exercise that right.

OT - I take your point, but it's hardly the same as the first one you made. Yes, there are times when it is unwise to stick you head above the parapet - Catholic in Portadown - but being open with team mates is an entirely seperate thing. One of the first questions women often ask each other is, are you married/have kids? Are you suggesting that I deny my gf and her kids to my teammates or even work colleagues?

Back on topic - two of my best friends met at a GAA match - All Ireland day in fact - one still plays, and has never had any issues from her team mates.

randylonghorn

crucamim wrote: »

Discretion is the better part of valour. If you are in Portadown, you have the right to let everybody know that you are a Catholic. That does not mean that it is wise to exercise that right.

And, lest I be misunderstood, I think it's entirely up to the gay person if they prefer not to exercise their right to announce the fact publicly.

But that's quite different from society telling them to shut up about it or put up with whatever negative consequences the remaining neanderthals among us can dream up.

Or as you put it

crucamim wrote: »

If you indulge in coat-trailing, do not yelp when you reap the reward.

For that matter, in a sane world it shouldn't matter in Portadown whether you're Catholic, nor should it matter on a GAA pitch if you're gay. And I had thought that such issues were gradually becoming less contentious in the north?

jamijary

at the end of the day if you are good enough people won't care, as long as you help them win!

crucamim

randylonghorn wrote: »

"And, lest I be misunderstood, I think it's entirely up to the gay person if they prefer not to exercise their right to announce the fact publicly."

Agreed.

"But that's quite different from society telling them to shut up about it or put up with whatever negative consequences the remaining neanderthals among us can dream up."

Why? The rights of Gays do not exist in isolation from the rights of others. There has been case law concerning a woman being sacked for boasting about her sexual exploits. And another case where a woman was sacked for wearing a sweater proclaiming "Lesbians unite". Both women lost their cases for unfair dismissal.

"For that matter, in a sane world it shouldn't matter in Portadown whether you're Catholic, nor should it matter on a GAA pitch if you're gay."

Please, live in the world which exists, not the world you would like to exist.

"And I had thought that such issues were gradually becoming less contentious in the north?"

Heaven help you. Why are you Staters so naive?

crucamim

dreamer_ire wrote: »

OT

"Yes, there are times when it is unwise to stick you head above the parapet - Catholic in Portadown - but being open with team mates is an entirely seperate thing."

I am not at all sure about that.

"One of the first questions women often ask each other is, are you married/have kids?"

Pease compare like with like. Women might ask each other "Are you married"? I suspect that they are less likely to ask each other "Are you a lesbian".

Caiseoipe19

Okay haven't posted on this since my first post but I've been following from afar! I can't "like" posts yet so i'll acknowledge here.

AodhDub wrote: »

Not helping the stereotype there lads really.

AodhDub wrote: »

Well it's impossible to avoid seeing things I suppose, but I don't like the idea of guys actively checking out their team mates after the showers. I don't do it, and I wouldn't like it done to me in that situation.

I second this! If I was openly gay the last thing I'd want is to make other teammates be conscious/uncomfortable that because I'm gay I'd be checking them out. For me personally football and my sexuality are completely seperate. As in, I wouldn't ever think of any of my team in a sexual way...therefore I don't have any desire to "sneak a peek". Yes of course you see stuff but I for one don't go looking anymore than anyone else.

crucamim wrote: »

Discretion is the better part of valour. If you are in Portadown, you have the right to let everybody know that you are a Catholic. That does not mean that it is wise to exercise that right.

crucamim wrote: »

foggy_lad wrote: »

"I would have the utmost respect and admiration for anyone who has the courage to come out in the gaa."

I would not. A person's sexual orientation is a private matter - so long as it remains private. If you indulge in coat-trailing, do not yelp when you reap the reward.

So are you saying that if you're gay you should let on that you are straight? As in, if someone on the team, asks you whether you find Woman A or Woman B hotter, you should lie and pick one? I don't think this would be "coat-trailing"...maybe the best answer would be to tell them that that would be a private matter and to mind their own business?
I'm not talking about going out to become a token gay GAA player. More like if I had a relationship with a man, nothing whatsoever to so with the GAA or my teammates but yet if asked about it not denying it. Yes I kept it private until I was asked but I don't see how answering a question with the truth would be seen as coat-trailing.

crucamim wrote: »

dreamer_ire wrote: »

OT

"Yes, there are times when it is unwise to stick you head above the parapet - Catholic in Portadown - but being open with team mates is an entirely seperate thing."

I am not at all sure about that.

*facepalm* I'm not too familiar with the situation in Portadown but I'm pretty sure Protestants and Catholics up there have a much different, and a slightly unfriendlier relationship than a bunch of guys from the same parish that have been playing together for years. Now I am open to correction there...

Thanks everyone for replies everyone though, even if I don't fully agree with some, it's no harm hearing different opinions!

randylonghorn

crucamim wrote: »

Why? The rights of Gays do not exist in isolation from the rights of others.

Ofc they don't.

Nobody but yourself has suggested they do.

crucamim wrote: »

There has been case law concerning a woman being sacked for boasting about her sexual exploits. And another case where a woman was sacked for wearing a sweater proclaiming "Lesbians unite". Both women lost their cases for unfair dismissal.

If accurate, I'm sure there was a context which made sense of those decisions.

How on earth does that compare to a gay person playing sports being upfront about acknowledging they were gay?

Which is what we were talking about ... well, the rest of us, anyway.

crucamim wrote: »

Please, live in the world which exists, not the world you would like to exist.

I live in the world which exists.

Doesn't stop me aspiring to a better one.

crucamim wrote: »

Heaven help you. Why are you Staters so naive?

We're not Staters. The "Free State" hasn't existed since 1937.

Why do (some of) you northerners insist on living in the past?

kilkenny_dub

Doubt theres many lads brave enough to come out in the small country villages. I think most people are actually accepting nowadays but think its just the fact that everyone would know, and it would spread around very quickly, which isn't cool (!).

I'm gay and actually gave up hurling when i was very young. I actually didnt like the dressing room thing. Found it a bit uncomfortable. I do miss the kind of 'team spirit' thing. When i go home now, i'm not really in any of the groups. But if i was playing on a team i'd be friends with everyone still, which is a bit ****.

Other side of it, is that is hard to met any fellas either. Like its either the camp scene or noting else. Never found a gay fella that likes hurling yet!

what the hell!

kilkenny_dub wrote: »

Doubt theres many lads brave enough to come out in the small country villages. I think most people are actually accepting nowadays but think its just the fact that everyone would know, and it would spread around very quickly, which isn't cool (!).

I'm gay and actually gave up hurling when i was very young. I actually didnt like the dressing room thing. Found it a bit uncomfortable. I do miss the kind of 'team spirit' thing. When i go home now, i'm not really in any of the groups. But if i was playing on a team i'd be friends with everyone still, which is a bit ****.

Other side of it, is that is hard to met any fellas either. Like its either the camp scene or noting else. Never found a gay fella that likes hurling yet!

What! Jeez I've been at every football and hurling game of Cork's all year and I do every year

Caiseoipe19

kilkenny_dub wrote: »

Doubt theres many lads brave enough to come out in the small country villages. I think most people are actually accepting nowadays but think its just the fact that everyone would know, and it would spread around very quickly, which isn't cool (!).

I'm gay and actually gave up hurling when i was very young. I actually didnt like the dressing room thing. Found it a bit uncomfortable. I do miss the kind of 'team spirit' thing. When i go home now, i'm not really in any of the groups. But if i was playing on a team i'd be friends with everyone still, which is a bit ****.

Other side of it, is that is hard to met any fellas either. Like its either the camp scene or noting else. Never found a gay fella that likes hurling yet!

Well now to be honest I've never played a game of hurling in my life but I'd watch it alright so I should count as one too! :cool: H'on Tipp!! :P (Since Galway aren't there)

rainbow kirby

Cygnus wrote: »

H'on Tipp!! :P

/frown :pac:

Caiseoipe19

rainbow kirby wrote: »

/frown :pac:

Well earlier on in the championship it would've read
"H'on any county other than Kilkenny or Cork" which leaves us with Tipp! Kilkenny have had it too easy in recent years...need to keep it interesting!:cool:

Barna77

Down the Dubs!

:cool:

garrigus

Im 21 and a gay guy from a rural town and I play for my local Football team. I came out when I was 18 to all my team and most were cool about it. Most were really shocked cause im not a typical camp guy, which is such a stupid stereotype.
At the beginning, I noticed that things were a bit weird. Some of the guys that i
I got on well with were kinda stand offish and I got some strange looks.

I was starting to feel like I had made a mistake coming out but I wasn't gunna give up football cause its something I really love. After a few weeks though, Things started to change. I noticed that all the banter like calling people fag and gay and stuff stopped incase i would be offended and asked a lot of questions about being gay, they began being curious about it.

It came to a point when i told them that I just want to be treated as everyone else on the team and that being gay is only a very small part of who I am. I just want to be judged on my football. Things got back to normal after that and now three years on im still enjoying my football. I think more people should come out in the gaa, especially those who play intercounty to show Irish people that gay people can play sports and that we are not rare, only then can it become less of a taboo.

rainbow kirby

Barna77 wrote: »

Down the Dubs!

:cool:

Don't hate us because we're beautiful. :pac:

garrigus

I like hurling lol.. Pity Dublin didn't beat Tipperary the other day

teemm

I don't think anyone gay should play GAA games. In fact I don't think anyone at all should play GAA. But that's just my prejudice against all forms of GAA. To me it's hardly a sport at all, just a series of skilless games played by people who for the most part wouldn't get a look in at another sport. It's been the ruination of all forms of sport in this country. But that's just my hurlaphobia.

Somehow I think an attitude like mine would get me more hassle than coming out as gay in a GAA team particularly in some counties or rural areas.

Before you start, I'm not a soccer fan or indeed a rugby fan either. I don't really care if Leinster, Munster, Liverpool or Chelsea win FA cup or whatever.

jaffacakesyum

[QUOTE=teemm;73848517]I don't think anyone gay should play GAA games. In fact I don't think anyone at all should play GAA. But that's just my prejudice against all forms of GAA. To me it's hardly a sport at all, just a series of skilless games played by people who for the most part wouldn't get a look in at another sport. It's been the ruination of all forms of sport in this country. But that's just my hurlaphobia.

Somehow I think an attitude like mine would get me more hassle than coming out as gay in a GAA team particularly in some counties or rural areas.

Before you start, I'm not a soccer fan or indeed a rugby fan either. I don't really care if Leinster, Munster, Liverpool or Chelsea win FA cup or whatever.[/QUOTE]

No offence mate but that's a pretty bizaare and in my opinion stupid attitude to have

You obviously know absolutely nothing about sport if you think it's a skilless game. I would be more of a soccer head than a GAA head so this is coming from someone who isn't obsessed with GAA.

I for one am big into sports but there's a few that I'm not mad on. Take hockey for example. I always hated playing it in school - still wouldn't have any interest in it. Yet I wouldn't tell anyone not to play it, or claim it is 'skilless'. I can still recognise how it requires skill, talent and determination.

teemm

No offence mate but that's a pretty bizaare and in my opinion stupid attitude to have

You've made my point and you're not even an obsessed GAA fan. A hostile post straight away. It isn't bizarre or stupid to think the game lacks grace and skill. You only have to watch it with detached eye for a minute or two to there's a lot of running about and crashing into each other with lots of scoring. Some players are skilled, the famous ones. The rest are just big blokes in shorts making up the numbers.

In any case half the time it's not about the sport at all but about thrashing the neighbouring village, town or county.

jaffacakesyum

teemm wrote: »

You've made my point and you're not even an obsessed GAA fan. A hostile post straight away. It isn't bizarre or stupid to think the game lacks grace and skill. You only have to watch it with detached eye for a minute or two to there's a lot of running about and crashing into each other with lots of scoring. Some players are skilled, the famous ones. The rest are just big blokes in shorts making up the numbers.

In any case half the time it's not about the sport at all but about thrashing the neighbouring village, town or county.

If it took no skill at all to play GAA then why can't any old average Joe get on the county teams? :rolleyes:

To be honest, not even gonna debate this any more it's just the stupidest thing I've heard in ages!

what the hell!

teemm wrote: »

I don't think anyone gay should play GAA games. In fact I don't think anyone at all should play GAA. But that's just my prejudice against all forms of GAA. To me it's hardly a sport at all, just a series of skilless games played by people who for the most part wouldn't get a look in at another sport. It's been the ruination of all forms of sport in this country. But that's just my hurlaphobia.

Somehow I think an attitude like mine would get me more hassle than coming out as gay in a GAA team particularly in some counties or rural areas.

Before you start, I'm not a soccer fan or indeed a rugby fan either. I don't really care if Leinster, Munster, Liverpool or Chelsea win FA cup or whatever.

Most ridiculous post ever. I don't know how you can call them skilless games.

kilkenny_dub

what the hell! wrote: »

Most ridiculous post ever. I don't know how you can call them skilless games.

Think hurling has been scientifically proven to be the most skiful field game in the world (along with the fastest). 127(?) different skills in hurling. get the book!

rainbow kirby

kilkenny_dub wrote: »

Think hurling has been scientifically proven to be the most skiful field game in the world (along with the fastest). 127(?) different skills in hurling. get the book!

Amazingly appropriate username for this post :pac:

AodhDub

kilkenny_dub wrote: »

Think hurling has been scientifically proven to be the most skiful field game in the world (along with the fastest). 127(?) different skills in hurling. get the book!

A man who knows his hurling. Fair play.

LegacyUser

teemm wrote: »

I don't think anyone gay should play GAA games. In fact I don't think anyone at all should play GAA. But that's just my prejudice against all forms of GAA. To me it's hardly a sport at all, just a series of skilless games played by people who for the most part wouldn't get a look in at another sport.

I am actually aghast at this. Look at this if you think there's no skill involved. Fair enough you mightn't like the GAA for whatever reason, but you actually can't be serious when you say there's no skill. That's the worst argument ever against the GAA.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TmzivRetelE&feature=related


Oh and kilkenny_dub, maybe you've seen this before but it's brilliant. All my life my family has been involved in the GAA, and apart from his family, there's nothing more important in my Dad's life. This video is just so good at summing up that community spirit. I'd like to think that gay or straight or whatever, everyone could be part of this, because it's a wonderful community to belong to.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yaE0A4r1keE

And for what it's worth- I think even if all 15 of the Tipperary or Kilkenny teams came out as gay on All Ireland day in a few weeks, people would soon forget about it once the ball is thrown in!! I mean, priorities here people!!

teemm

Think hurling has been scientifically proven to be the most skiful field game in the world (along with the fastest). 127(?) different skills in hurling. get the book!

Most ridiculous post ever. I don't know how you can call them skilless games.

If it took no skill at all to play GAA then why can't any old average Joe get on the county teams?

To be honest, not even gonna debate this any more it's just the stupidest thing I've heard in ages!

Ah it's touching really. Such confidence, look I don't want to burst your little bubbles.

It just really proves how well the GAA have got into the average Joe's head. Scientifically proven, Stop it please........................

See what I mean? Being gay is nothing, being a GAA apostate, well go to hell you demon! LOL