Gay referee David Gough disappointed that few GAA players feel they can come out
Nick McCarthy and Blackpool soccer player Jake Daniels, have come out and received widespread support, Gough wonders why there aren’t more openly queer GAA stars.“When I came out publicly in 2011, I just assumed that it would open doorways for other people and it doesn’t seem to have,” Gough notes. “Or maybe they just haven’t taken the opportunity.
They’re there, there’s no doubt about it.“It just hasn’t happened (in the GAA) and we’re talking about 64 inter-county hurling and football teams where nobody seems to have found a comfortable space yet or a place in their journey where they feel comfortable in coming out,” he continues. “And that’s a little bit sad because greater visibility leads to greater ease for people who are following people in those footsteps.”People happily existing as a member of the LGBT community, but also within the sports world and representing both is crucial according to referee David Gough— The GAA (@officialgaa) June 24, 2022Although Gough is disappointed that LGBTQ+ GAA players don’t seem to feel they have a safe space in which to come out, he also notes that progress is indeed being made for queer support and visibility within the sport.“We only have to look back to 2015 when I wasn’t allowed to wear a [rainbow] wristband, 2019 when we walked in the pride parade, to 2022 where now the GPA is getting involved, there is a diversity and inclusion officer, there’s two dedicated LGBT teams in the two main cities in this country.”This Saturday, members of Ireland's first explicitly LGBTQ+ inclusive GAA club, @NaGaeilAeracha (the Rainbow Gaels), will march in the Dublin Pride Parade as part of the GAA’s delegation and celebrate how far they've come in such a short period of time.
