Trans+ people have been left feeling “sick” and “upset” after Keir Starmer said he is “supportive” of moves to ban them from sports teams.

WORDS BY CONOR CLARK
HEADER BY YOSEF PHELAN

“Sick”, “upset” and “discriminated against” are just some of the words trans+ people used to describe how they are feeling after Sir Keir Starmer became the latest politician to back bans on their participation in sport. The leader of the Labour Party, who could soon be the next Prime Minister, has previously kept his distance from the issue, though has now confirmed that he is “supportive” of governing bodies moving to stop trans women competing in female categories. “I think the important thing is that the sports governing bodies take a lead on this,” he told Telegraph Sport on 11 March. “And they are doing that, and we’re supportive of what they’re doing, particularly in elite sport. So, that’s where the decision should be taken. They’ve taken a number of decisions. And, in the end, common sense has to prevail in terms of safety and integrity of sport.”

Despite there being a minute number of trans athletes participating in sport at an elite level, discussions around their involvement are rife in the media. Just last year, for example, one trans woman who finished 6,159th in the London Marathon dominated headlines for “beating” 14,000 other women who took part. With politicians now playing an active role in this discourse ahead of the upcoming general election, prominent figures within the trans+ community are warning of the “harm” this type of language causes to those who are already marginalised within society. 

“Sport and fitness is an essential part of health and wellness and should be accessible for everyone regardless of identity,” a spokesperson for Not a Phase, a trans-led, grassroots charity dedicated to awareness campaigning, social projects and funding new initiatives for the community, told GAY TIMES. “By using language such as ‘common sense’, these statements encourage the idea that anti-trans sentiment and exclusion is fair or even expected. The Labour Party has an opportunity to present a voice of inclusivity and respect but instead, these sorts of comments cause further harm to a community who are already under pervasive attack from the Conservative government.”

Shortly after Starmer’s comments were made public, GAY TIMES spoke to a number of trans and non-binary people about how the UK’s next potential leader’s comments made them feel. 

Charlie Martin, Racing Driver and Activist (she/her)

“Hearing yet another politician say we must follow common sense when deciding what rights trans people are allocated makes me so angry. ‘Common sense’ implies that trans inclusion in sport is well understood, believe me it isn’t. Very few people I’ve spoken with (including the media) understand the facts, research and statistics, so it’s facile and belittling to make such an arrogant statement. 

“I’m lucky that I compete in one of very few mixed sports. Even so it’s been tough making it as a trans woman in motor racing, one of the most male dominated and heteronormative sports out there. The biggest barriers I’ve had to overcome has been a simple lack of awareness and the acceptance that come with it. Nonetheless I’ve had some amazing support, and I wouldn’t be where I am today without it.

“Unfortunately, misinformation and fear mongering have polarised opinions to such an extent that it’s hard to have a rational conversation on this topic. Barely a month goes by without yet another governing body closing its doors to trans competitors, it’s hard to see how we can make our voices heard and turn things around. Sadly I think common sense left the chat a while ago, what we have now is anything but.”

Cambell Kenneford, Influencer (she/her)

“As a trans woman, hearing Keir Starmer use the words ‘common sense’ when it came to our bodies made me sick. These are the exact same words Rishi Sunak used when he said ‘a woman is a woman, and a man is a man, and it’s just common sense’. As a party which is meant to be liberal, I have completely given up on any political party to defend trans rights. Women’s rights need to be protected too, but women’s rights include trans rights. They come under the same umbrella.

“When I was at school, I was such a sporty and athletic person, I was top of my class, and when I started transitioning I put everything on the back burner. I now do nothing sporty because I have a genuine fear of being discriminated against when it comes to playing sports and getting involved.”

Tristan, Ambassador at Just Like Us and Research Assistant (he/him)

“As a trans person, I was actively discriminated against when engaging in sports in school. Despite the fact that it was a single-sex school, I was gradually barred from certain activities within PE, then sports clubs, and then finally, barred from any sports activity whatsoever. Every other student got to participate in Sports Day, whereas I was barred from taking part at all. This was most hurtful when it came to the sports I really loved – rowing and javelin.

“Even now, at university, I feel as though I cannot take part in the sports clubs I would like to in case I am harassed for being trans. I wouldn’t be able to participate in competitions with other universities anyways, as trans individuals cannot compete in British Universities and Colleges Sport (BUCS) fixtures in the correct category. As a man, I would be forced to participate in women’s competitions despite having been openly a male for nearly seven years.

“Keir Starmer’s statement, and comments like these from politicians from across the political spectrum, only reinforce the daily struggle that trans people, and especially trans women, face. He supports a stereotype that trans women are not ‘real women’ (they are certainly real women!), and suggests that the inclusion of trans people is against ‘common sense’. How can people with national, even global, platforms, hoping for votes from the public, feel able to encourage discrimination against trans women and the trans community as a whole? This derogatory rhetoric contributes to the social exclusion of trans people. Sport should always be about inclusion, diversity and celebration, not discrimination, prejudice and exclusion.”

Ella Morgan, TV Personality and Advocate (she/her)

“For a trans kid in today’s current climate, to be made to feel like the outsider and essentially be told you are forced to participate with the opposite gender to who you are, is so uncomfortable and is not only soul-destroying, but can feel humiliating and hurtful. You aren’t being seen as the person you are and it feels like you are invisible and not seen or heard.

“As for the people who want to run our country or currently do, the effects these kinds of statements make can do such damage to a child who simply wants to play a sport with the same gender as them. It’s harmful to the young trans kids of today to write such detrimental headlines, not just because everything written is 99.9 per cent of the time negative, but also because it will stop kids from coming out and feeling comfortable enough to be themselves and express who they are in fear of judgement and bullying.

“If your own government doesn’t back you then what hope is any child going to have? Why is it that cis people have to be pitted against trans people? It’s sport. Let a trans woman play with fellow girls and let trans boys play with fellow boys. Simple. We are the gender we say we are. It doesn’t need to be this harming and divisive.”

Jude Guaitamacchi, Trans Rights Campaigner (they/them)

Paul Madeley

“When I’m asked what I think about trans+ people participating in sport, I am baffled that I’m even asked that question and that we’re even discussing who should and shouldn’t have the privilege of being included in sport at any level. I am even more disappointed that anyone could believe the answer is to further exclude some of the most vulnerable and marginalised people in our society.

“Trans+ women are the frequent target of transphobic hate and anti-trans legislation in this country and as a trans masculine person I stand firmly with my trans+ sisters to say that this is not at all ‘common sense’, it is dehumanising, exclusionary, and another example of the ongoing and consistent attacks on trans rights in this country.”

Sarah Savage, CEO of Trans Pride Brighton (she/her)

“So much has been achieved towards making sport truly inclusive so it is disappointing to hear of the efforts to discourage the trans and non-binary community from taking part. The lazy talking points used are based on false assumptions, using transphobic tropes to stir up unease and fear about a tiny minority of trans sportspeople.

“Our community has said over and over again that we just want to get involved in what we love, sports, of all forms and we want to feel welcomed. Whether we are trying to get active by taking part in our local ParkRun or striving to compete professionally, sport should be inclusive of us all and that’s what we should be working towards.”

Dee, Activist, Ex-Teacher and Ambassador for Just Like Us (they/them)

“All young people deserve access to physical education, regardless of how they identify. I have witnessed first-hand trans and gender diverse pupils hiding in classrooms, or locking themselves in bathroom cubicles, because they did not feel comfortable enough in the sex-segregated class or changing room that they were placed in.

“I’ve had to accompany pupils to their lessons to ensure their participation and general safety. Sometimes they simply couldn’t bring themselves to play a sport because they had been assigned to a team that did not align with their gender, and they would watch as the other group played a sport they wished they could participate in. As a trans individual myself, I felt their desire to be included, but even my presence as a trans teacher wasn’t enough to help them feel comfortable during these lessons.

“The rhetoric in media and politics around trans people participating in sports will result in more young trans people avoiding PE, or school in general, losing out on vital education and experiences simply because they are not accepted for who they are.”

Paris Munro, Broadcaster and Presenter (he/they)

“It deeply upsets me that Keir Starmer is backing the banning of transgender athletes from women’s sport. If we think about people who are on HRT (hormone replacement therapy), taking HRT produces physical changes to the body that align with that person’s identity. Even though in this case, taking HRT changes the biological makeup of that person, why are they still not included? Please explain that? The government needs to lead by example, and it seems to me that Keir Starmer doesn’t know what common sense is.”

Borbon*, Ambassador at Just Like Us

“Who can take part in sports? Which bathroom to use? Really? Don’t politicians have many other economic and social issues to focus on?

“Again and again, politicians across the political spectrum seem to want a way to spread misinformation. Suppressing trans women in sports is just a reinforcement of a patriarchal narrative to suppress women in sports. We, trans people, have been excluded from many different social aspects of society, especially trans women. The stigma affects our relationships with people, access to services and our sense of self.

“I’ve felt this while in changing rooms, bathrooms and sometimes simply tagging along with non-queer people, where I felt I wasn’t able to fit in according to my gender identity. Feelings of discomfort and the little looks from people would make me feel like leaving the space as I would feel unsafe and uncomfortable.

“Is it too much to ask to be treated like a human, like any other person?”

*The real name of ‘Borbon’ has been changed for the purposes of this article.

Spokesperson for Not a Phase

“We’re disappointed to see Mr Starmer perpetuating the idea that Trans+ women pose a threat in any aspect of society. Sport and fitness is an essential part of health and wellness and should be accessible for everyone regardless of identity. By using language such as ‘common sense’, these statements encourage the idea that anti-Trans sentiment and exclusion is fair or even expected.

“The Labour Party has an opportunity to present a voice of inclusivity and respect but instead, these sorts of comments cause further harm to a community who are already under pervasive attack from the Conservative government.

“We hope that Mr Starmer and the Labour Party recognise this and take steps to de-platform the misinformation which is being spread by anti-Trans groups as a distraction from the real issues facing the UK.”

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Zander Murray, Scotland’s first openly gay senior male footballer, was put into drag for the first time by local rising star Cherry West.

WORDS BY CONOR CLARK
PHOTOGRAPHY BY IG PHOTOGRAPHY

Zander Murray, Scotland’s first openly gay senior male footballer, has been transformed into a drag queen by one of the country’s rising stars, Cherry West.  

In pictures shared exclusively with GAY TIMES, Murray can be seen being put into full drag by West, ultimately becoming his new alter-ego Miss De Ball.

The duo documented the process in a video for West’s YouTube channel, which sees them discuss everything from the moment that inspired Murray to come out publicly, as well as what he plans to do after his upcoming retirement. 

“I just think it was incredible and empowering,” Murray said of the experience. “It’s femininity, my feminine side. My less masculine side is something I’ve kept away for 16 years of my life, so it was invigorating to just be my authentic self and drag is something I’ve loved for so long.”

West, who is just 17-years-old but has already been doing drag for almost three years, said it meant a lot to her to work with Murray on the project as she used to love sport before feeling disconnected from it after coming to terms with her sexuality. 

“When I realised I was gay, I felt like I couldn’t exist within the world of sport, and even less so when I became a drag queen,” she told GAY TIMES. 

“So many stereotypes would have made it hard to feel welcome. But since getting to know Zander, a very talented footballer who also happens to be gay, it really feels possible that the gay community and the sporting community can exist together rather than gay people being sidelined. 

“Already, following the success of his documentary, we are beginning to see positive changes and I’m looking forward to continuing to work with Zander on more projects so we can continue to close the gap and tackle discrimination head on.”

You can see pictures from the process below and the video is now streaming here. 

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Carl Nassib has announced his “bittersweet” retirement from the National Football League (NFL) after seven years playing in it.

The athlete previously made history as the first openly gay active player in the NFL’s 103-year history after publicly coming out in 2021.

He will continue working with it on matters of “diversity, equality and inclusion”, as well as its philanthropic endeavours, People reported.

Nassib confirmed news of his retirement in a lengthy Instagram post on 6 September, where he wrote that his goal is to focus on Rayze – his company that has an app helping users give back to the causes they are passionate about.

“It really feels like just yesterday starting out as a walk-on at Penn State,” he said.

“I can truly hang up my helmet for the last time knowing I gave it everything I had.

“Growing up I loved how fun football was. I loved the pursuit of perfection. I loved the small window where every player has to chase their dreams. It makes it all the more exciting if you get there.

“It was always my dream to play in the NFL, even as a walk-on, and I really feel like the luckiest guy on the planet.”

“I was glad to do my part to help bring visibility and representation to my community”

Nassib used his coming out in June 2021 to highlight the work of the Trevor Project, a charity for LGBTQ+ youth considering suicide, by announcing a $100,000 (£80,300) donation to it.

This was quickly matched by the NFL, which shared its commitment to “year-long efforts around diversity, equity and inclusion”.

 

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A post shared by Carl Nassib (@carlnassib)

During his first press conference after sharing that he is gay, Nassib revealed that he was shocked by how much attention his coming out received.

“It was incredible,” he said in August 2021. “I thought nobody would care. But it was just such a good feeling to have all that support. I was glad to do my part to help bring visibility and representation to my community.”

READ MORE: NFL player Carl Nassib confirms relationship with Olympian Søren Dahl

He also used the opportunity to dismiss those raising concerns that his sexuality would cause issues with other teammates.

“We’ve got a great locker room, great teammates. I’ve been met with nothing but love and support. It has been incredible,” Nassib continued.

“Football players get a bad wrap. But we’re humble, hard-working, accepting people. This was a great example of that.”

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England’s Lionesses football team went head-to-head against Spain on Sunday in the final of the Women’s World Cup in Sydney, where two-thirds of the squads have featured openly LGBTQ+ players.

The high levels of LGBTQ+ representation at the tournament highlight a trend in top-level women’s sport that contrasts with the relative absence of openly gay or bisexual men in elite male sporting competition.

Here’s what you need to know:

How many openly gay or bi female footballers are there?

At least 96 of the more than 730 players who have competed in 2023 Women’s World Cup identify as LGBTQ+, according to research from sports site Outsports – up from 41 during the last tournament in 2019.

This weekend’s final will see eight LGBTQ+ women taking part across both sides, including Spanish captain Ivana Andrés, who married her wife last year.

Last year, there were more than 60 lesbian and bi women taking part in Britain’s Women’s Premier League, playing for leading clubs including Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester United and Liverpool.

“You can’t win a championship without gays on your team – it’s never been done before, ever,” U.S. former co-captain Megan Rapinoe said during the 2019 Women’s World Cup.

Canadian midfielder Quinn became the first transgender and non-binary person to take part in a World Cup – men’s or women’s – this year.

What about LGBTQ+ representation in men’s football?

In contrast to the women’s game, only a handful of male footballers have come out as LGBTQ+.

In Britain, Blackpool forward Jake Daniels and Zander Murray from Scotland’s Bonnyrigg Rose came out as gay in 2022, with Murray becoming the first openly LGBTQ+ Scottish top-flight footballer.

Czech player Jakub Jankto came out in February this year – the first active senior international in men’s football to do so.

Justin Fashanu remains the only openly gay footballer to have played for England after he came out in 1990. He died by suicide in 1998.

Andy Brennan became Australia’s first professional male footballer to come out while still playing in 2019, after now-retired U.S. trailblazer Robbie Rogers did so in 2013. Australian A-League player Josh Cavallo came out in October 2021.

German Thomas Hitzlsperger, now VfB Stuttgart’s head of sport, came out one year after retiring.

Goalkeeper Phuti Lekoloane remains the only openly gay player at a high level in South Africa after coming out in 2015.

Why is women’s sport more inclusive?

It is not just football that has seen more LGBTQ+ women represented than men – with lesbian and bi athletes also visible in cricket, tennis, boxing, basketball, hockey and other sports.

Many openly lesbian athletes emerged more than a century ago. One example is Lily Parr, one of the earliest gay footballers in England, who played for the Dick, Kerr’s Ladies F.C. before the FA banned women from playing on their grounds in 1921.

Researchers point to a long history of lesbian and bi women using sport to find community, and in some cases to challenge traditional gender roles that long labelled sport as a masculine activity.

One 2020 study from Monash University found that 91% of female rugby players said they had been assumed to be gay at some point.

However, more than two-thirds of female athletes said they feel they can be more open about their sexuality than sportsmen, the BBC Elite British Sportswomen’s Survey revealed in 2020.

Surveys among top sportsmen – for example among tennis and rugby union players – have reported the frequent use of homophobic slurs in competitive circles and shown athletes’ concerns about losing lucrative sponsorship deals if they came out.

Players in Britain’s Premier League have also been subjected to homophobic chanting from fans during multiple games as recently as this year.

“I don’t think you can say anything in a woman’s football changing room that would shock anybody or be judged,” Leah Williamson, England’s captain during the Women’s Euro 2022 championships, told Openly during the men’s World Cup.

Reporting by Lucy Middleton.

GAY TIMES and Openly/Thomson Reuters Foundation are working together to deliver leading LGBTQ+ news to a global audience.

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After disinviting a non-profit drag group to its upcoming Pride Night celebrations, the LA Dodgers has backtracked with a public apology.

The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, a well-known order of queer and trans “nuns” who do charitable and protest work, as well as drag performances, were told they could no longer attend the event due to backlash from conservative Catholics.

“Given the strong feelings of people who have been offended by the sisters’ inclusion in our evening and in an effort not to distract from the great benefits that we have seen over the years of Pride Night, we are deciding to remove them from this year’s group of honorees,” the Dodgers announced on 17 May.

The decision was met with widespread outrage from the LGBTQ+ community, many of which slammed the team for caving into such opposition at a time when anti-LGBTQ+ legislation and rhetoric is rife in the US and beyond.

READ MORE: Drag is under attack – but these queens aren’t backing down anytime soon

Following what the team described as “thoughtful feedback” and some “honest conversations”, an apology was issued to both the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence and the wider LGBTQ+ community.

“We have asked the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence to take their place on the field at our 10th annual LGBTQ+ Pride Night on June 16th. We are pleased to share that they have agreed to receive the gratitude of our collective communities for the lifesaving work that they have done tirelessly for decades,” said a statement issued on 23 May.

“In the weeks ahead, we will continue to work with our LGBTQ+ partners to better educate ourselves, find ways to strengthen the ties that bind and use our platform to support all of our fans who make up the diversity of the Dodgers family.”

pic.twitter.com/626cPP4Ith

— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) May 22, 2023

In a statement posted to their own social channels, the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence said they “are proud to accept the Community Hero Award from the Los Angeles Dodgers for our twenty-seven years of service to the LGBTQIA2S Community.”

READ MORE: Drag Isn’t Dangerous telethon raises $500,000 to fight anti-LGBTQ+ laws

The performers continued: “We believe the apology is sincere because the Dodgers have worked for 10 years with our community and as well they have asked us to continue an ongoing relationship with them.

“In the future, if similar pressures from outside our community arise, our two organizations will consult and assist each other in responding, alongside our colleagues at the Los Angeles LGBT Center and others from the LGBTQIA2S community, now more closely tied with the LA Dodgers than ever before.”

Pride Night will take place on 16 June.

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James Johnson, Chief Executive of Football Australia, has shared that he is “pretty confident and optimistic” rainbow armbands will be allowed at the Women’s World Cup.

Plans to wear the OneLove armbands were abandoned by six European countries, including England, at the 2022 Qatar World Cup due to Fifa rules stating that political, religious or personal slogans, statements and/or images are not allowed on team equipment.

Players were even warned wearing one would result in “sporting sanctions” and an instant yellow card.

There is now growing concern that the upcoming women’s World Cup, which will be hosted by Australia and New Zealand from July to August, will follow suit in not allowing the anti-discrimination armbands.

READ MORE: World Cup: England and Wales opt not to wear OneLove armband after FIFA threat

“We’ve had very good dialogue with Fifa and it’s meaningful,” Johnson told the Observer. “They are not paying lip service to this. We’re in the middle of that process and we’re pretty confident and optimistic that we’ll end up in a good place: a place where players have the ability to express themselves in certain areas, which keeps the players happy, it keeps the host nation happy and also Fifa happy as well. So I do think there’ll be a resolution ahead of the Women’s World Cup.”

He further explained that this included plans for players to wear different armbands that represent certain issues, such as Indigenous rights and First Nation rights, that don’t “necessarily reflect the players all around the world”.

“Players wanted to use that platform to push issues that were important to them”

“But I think the players will be able to wear armbands around certain issues that they wish to express themselves on,” he stated.

When asked directly about whether or not he expects to see players wearing rainbow armbands, he said: “I think there will be, yes.”

Last year’s World Cup was marred with controversy ever since it was announced that it would take place in Qatar, where homosexuality is illegal and LGBTQ+ people are routinely subjected to discrimination and harassment.

READ MORE: LGBTQ+ people ‘arrested and abused’ in Qatar ahead of World Cup

“One of the key learnings for us as a host with the Qatar World Cup was seeing how players wanted to use that platform to push issues that were important to them,” Johnson continued. “That came through very strongly. And in the case of Qatar, the competition rules were at odds with that desire of the players. So we’re cognisant of that.”

The women’s World Cup will be hosted by Australia and New Zealand from 20 July to 20 August 2023.

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Transgender women will not be allowed to compete in female events under new guidelines announced by World Athletics president Sebastian Coe.

In a press conference in Monaco on 23 March, he said “decisive action” had been taken to “protect the female category in our sport”.

“The council has agreed to exclude male-to-female transgender athletes, who have been through male puberty, from female world ranking competitions from 31 March,” he continued.

“In January, World Athletics said it was consulting with member federations on a proposal to change the rules on participation of transgender women in female competitions.

“The issue is thorny as sports try to strike a balance between inclusivity and making sure there is no unfair advantage.”

READ MORE: Trans sports exclusions trickle down to youth and amateur groups

The day the ban comes into effect, 31 March, is also Trans Day of Visibility. 

He also stated that a working group will be set up to do further research into transgender eligibility guidelines. 

Coe explained that the decision was made after a consultation with an array of stakeholders including athletes, coaches, UN experts, the IOC, community groups and 40 member federations. 

READ MORE: IOC announces new Olympic guidelines for transgender inclusion in sport

“The majority of those consulted stated that transgender athletes should not be competing in the female category,” he said.

“Many believe there is insufficient evidence that trans women do not retain advantage over biological women, and want more evidence that any physical advantages have been ameliorated before they are willing to consider an option for inclusion into the female category.”

You can watch the press conference in full below or by clicking here.

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Gay footballer Zander Murray tells GAY TIMES about his “emotional” new documentary and the importance of facing internalised homophobia head-on.

WORDS BY CONOR CLARK

“I hope we can get to a point where it doesn’t make mainstream news and it’s just accepted,” says Zander Murray, who last year became Scotland’s first openly gay senior male footballer, of players coming out as LGBTQ+. Since doing so himself in September 2022, Zander has used his platform to publicly speak out about LGBTQ+ issues and worked with organisations such as Stonewall and Time for Inclusive Education to amplify visibility within the community and beyond. Now, in a new BBC documentary titled Disclosure: Out on the Pitch, the 31-year-old is being more candid than ever before about his path to “fully accepting” himself and what it was like to come out publicly. “The documentary is not all positive and we need to be brutally honest with that and being an out, gay footballer isn’t all positive,” he tells GAY TIMES. 

In the documentary, Zander explores whether or not men’s football has a problem with homophobia and what is being done about it. The striker, who plays for Gala Fairydean Rovers, also faces his internalised homophobia head-on and speaks openly about his mental health and getting help when he needs it. “That’s a big thing I always want to convey to anyone who’s a sports person and they’re struggling,” he explains. “You actually need to build up a lot of armour to throw yourself into that world because it can be challenging and you will get horrible people, especially on Twitter, and you may get them at the stadiums or whatnot.” Here, we speak with Zander about the “emotional” documentary and the “strides” he’d still like to see take place when it comes to LGBTQ+ representation in football.

What was the process of making this documentary like for you?

Honestly, I don’t know what my thoughts were before actually starting it – I just didn’t really know what to expect. I thought it might have been a lot of work and tough, but honestly, it was just brilliant and I loved every second of it. All the conversations with the people we met, all the interviews. So it was honestly incredible, I just had no idea what to expect going into it. It was just fantastic – the people we met, all the people in the BBC, producers, filmographers, everyone there was absolutely wonderful and I just hope that translates on the screen.

LGBTQ+ representation in sport continues to be quite scarce, especially in men’s football which you’ve got a lot of experience in. What did making this documentary teach you about homophobia in sport?

I learned a lot, I don’t want to give too much away, but there’s some interesting stats and figures and also, just speaking to out sports people, I’ve learned a lot about what’s actually going on. Obviously my views and how difficult it was for me growing up, I speak in great detail to that. But yes, I’ve learned a hell of a lot and also just about protocols and how to manage it and how to deal with if you do hear homophobic remarks, if it’s from a fan or a player, coaching staff, it’s really good when you’ve been in that realm. I really understand the landscape in Scottish football and obviously a bit of British football as well which, again, only helps.

It’s been a bit six months since you came out publicly and in that time you’ve used your platform to discuss an array of issues affecting LGBTQ+ people and worked with organisations like Stonewall. What has this period of time been like for you?

It’s incredible, it’s just beyond my wildest imagination. Honestly, as I’ve said many times, I sent out a private Facebook post to just tell the football community that I was gay because everyone else knew at that point in September and honestly, overnight, I was just astounded by the love, support, traction, which also highlights still where we’re at. I know there’s only a small minority of us out, gay male players, but it just highlights still where we’re at and it’s just been a steady, steady incline, it just keeps getting better and better and now, here I am, speaking to yourself and have a documentary coming out about my own story and I’m overwhelmed. It’s incredible.

In the last few years we’ve had players like Jake Daniels and Josh Cavallo come out publicly. Did seeing them do this make you feel like it was time for you to share who you are with the world?

Absolutely, absolutely. Of course, the ex-footballers – Robbie Rogers, Thomas Beattie, Antonio Hysén, the list is endless – who I speak and engage with fairly regularly because there’s not that many of us, as you know. And, yeah, Josh Cavallo when he did it overseas, but more importantly, when it was in Britain – young Jake, we’ve had a couple of exchanges and I really hope to meet him one day. Aye, just what an unbelievably brave young man. Obviously, I’m at a different stage to him, he’s eighteen and so that was amazing for football. And I just thought, yeah, now’s the time for me, because obviously I had my background in education and I thought, now’s the time, because actually if it does get traction, which it did, I can now go on and help, which I’m doing, and you can see – I’m not going to give too much away about the documentary – but I go around professional football academies with an LGBTQ+ charity called Time for Inclusive Education and we do really, really empowering workshops. And so, aye, it’s just really hitting all the targets that I wanted to achieve and I’m just so blessed to be in this position. And listen, we’re talking about all the positives here, the documentary is not all positive and we need to be brutally honest with that and being an out, gay footballer isn’t all positive. I know it’s great, but it’s got a lot, a lot of challenges Conor that I do discuss a bit in the documentary.

As you touched on there, the LGBTQ+ experience isn’t always a positive one and it’s a very multidimensional thing that varies from person to person. In making the documentary, I’m sure you had to face things that you weren’t expecting to deal with. What was it like to face those things head-on, especially on camera?

It was emotional, which again, I hope translates on the screen. It was very, very emotional. Some of it triggers you or just hits home, some things, or hearing what people are saying who you’re interviewing, because I interviewed people from all different levels, from people from the very top national level, the Scottish Football Association, which is like the FA, all down to – I want to give too much away – but LGBTQ+ sports teams who were talking about their personal stories, I’m getting goosebumps again. Every interview, whatever story they’ve shared, I’m like, ‘I’ve been through that and I can really relate to your struggle’. So many times I welled up and one of the very, very last times was when I got emotional.

When you first came out, you said you previously felt that your career in football couldn’t coexist with your identity as a gay man. Did the last six months and making this documentary change that perception at all?

Yeah, about internalised homophobia and how you live a double life for such a long time, I couldn’t comprehend and I do go into detail a bit about that and then, look at me now, fully accepting myself. I don’t know your journey, Conor, but for myself, coming out was one thing but then accepting myself and being fully open – if I had a boyfriend at the time, walking in the street with him or sitting in a café with my friends talking about RuPaul’s Drag Race, a lot of the times I’d be looking around like, ‘Holy shit, who’s there?’ so I did a lot of work on myself, I’ll be honest, a lot. I have sought support. Counselling, I’ve done a lot of journaling, meditating, you name it. I sought it out, spoke to people, spoke to my ‘Judy’s’ (another RuPaul’s Drag Race quote) and then eventually, you just have that moment that it just all fits and clicks and you’re like, ‘No, I can do this’. That’s a big thing I always want to convey to anyone who’s a sports person and they’re struggling. You actually need to build up a lot of armour to throw yourself into that world because it can be challenging and you will get horrible people, especially on Twitter, and you may get them at the stadiums or whatnot. But if you can handle that, the majority of the time you’re a human being, but by a large, water off a duck’s back! Sorry, another RuPaul’s Drag Race quote. If you can handle that, then jackpot because unfortunately, I know we’re making strides, but let’s be honest, there’s still very horrible people out there which, again, we go into a bit of detail on and I speak honestly about that and what’s been happening in Scottish football in recent times.

It’s great to hear that you’ve used the documentary as a way of highlighting the importance of looking after your mental health, especially given how prominent homophobia continues to be, particularly for those from a more marginalised part of the LGBTQ+ community.

But that’s why I hope that, yes, of course, I hope this documentary hits home for those that are struggling, but also the armchair cis, white, straight male – let’s just be specific here. I hope it hits home on them too, for them to understand and hear that maybe these people aren’t that bad, or maybe everything I’ve been taught or what I’ve been told by my father or whatever religion they’re religious to, actually, look, they’re just normal people. Whatever they get brainwashed with, I don’t know, but I hope that hits home for them. Trans people and drag are under attack, it’s horrendous, and we need to support one another.

Let’s pretend we’re having this conversation in 20 or 30 years time and you’re making another documentary looking back at what has changed since this one. What would you like to see in terms of LGBTQ+ representation both in men’s football and beyond by then?

Great question. I just hope that I can sit down and be like, ‘Wow, I was part of that community at a very, very tough time’. We’re still such a small minority and I hope we get to that point where it doesn’t need to be news and in that dressing room people can just be accepting of themselves and, when someone asks them what they’re doing at the weekend, they can just be open and honest and tell them. [I hope] we can get to a point where it doesn’t make mainstream news and it’s just accepted. And, you know, that the mainstream community and media are understanding of these derogatory remarks that they use that are homophobic – they need to understand the hurt that can do to some people, especially if they’re struggling, and just wipe it out completely. And, not just that, it’s all forms of discrimination, of course. I’ve never really seen someone sharing their full story like this and I’m hoping it can really hit home. What you’re saying in the dressing room and what you’re saying in the stands can have a huge fucking impact, not just on the people on the pitch, but the people around you because there’s LGBTQ+ fan groups and people around you as well. We’re not the majority, we’re a minority and we can’t give up this fight. I hope in 20/30 years time I can sit back and see some strides. I don’t think we’ll ever get to a perfect world because, let’s be honest, you’re always going to get a twat. So, I just want to showcase to someone struggling that there’s people like you out there.

Zander Murray – Out on the Pitch is available to watch now on BBC iPlayer.

The post Zander Murray: ‘I hope we reach a point where footballers coming out doesn’t make the news’ appeared first on GAY TIMES.

The disappearance of rugby player Levi Davis is being investigated by Spanish detectives in order to understand whether or not a crime has been committed, the BBC reported.

He was last seen in a pub in Barcelona, Spain on 29 October.

Officers have since described the case as “disturbing” due to there being “no logical explanation” about what happened.

The 24-year-old had gone to Ibiza a few weeks before going missing to stay with his friend Richard Squire and work on some songs together.

Squire said he last saw Davis on 28 October when he was dropped off in Ibiza Town.

Davis then travelled to Barcelona and can be seen on CCTV leaving the Old Irish Pub the following day – though he has not been seen since and his passport was found by police a few weeks later.

READ MORE: Rugby player and X Factor star Levi Davis missing in Spain

He was carrying a small black backpack and wearing a white T-shirt, black jeans and white trainers at the time of his disappearance.

In a voice note sent to a friend just before midnight on 30 October, Davis said Barcelona is “absolutely beautiful” and is helping him get inspired.

His family has since shared that he was in a “sad place” and has struggled with his mental health in the past.

Loved ones are now running a social media campaign to try and find him, with a £10,000 reward offered in exchange for information leading to him being found.

The post Levi Davis: Police report “disturbing” issues with missing rugby player case appeared first on GAY TIMES.