The sporting pitch has long been a battleground for social progress, and few fronts have been more challenging than the inclusion of LGBTQI+ individuals. In this thoughtful conversation, Jim McIlroy of Bohemian FC’s Gay Bohs offers a candid look at what genuine inclusion means in Irish football today.

Founded in 2016 after Bohemian FC publicly supported marriage equality, Gay Bohs reclaimed a slur and transformed it into a symbol of pride. Since 2017, Dalymount Park has flown the Pride flag at every match—the only League of Ireland ground to do so. “That simple step made me feel a little bit more at ease,” reflects McIlroy, “showing support, showing solidarity.”

The stark reality remains that LGBTQI+ participation in sport lags significantly behind the general population. Research reveals that around 55% of LGBT individuals aren’t active enough to maintain good health, compared to much lower figures for others. McElroy explains how many queer people gravitate toward solitary sports rather than team environments, where “locker room culture” can feel unwelcoming.

Most concerning is what McIlroy describes as a societal pendulum swinging back from progress: “We’re probably at a point on that journey that is particularly challenging for LGBTQI+ people, particularly for transgender people.” Despite Ireland having diversity policies and inclusion strategies, McIlroy warns about “pinkwashing” and the creation of documents without meaningful change. “It’s not enough to say, ‘Oh well, we did the survey and that’s it, it’s done,'” he cautions. “We’re setting ourselves up to do a lot of hard work over the next five, ten years.”

This conversation arrives at a pivotal moment when corporations are quietly withdrawing support for Pride events and sporting bodies face pressure to roll back inclusive policies. McIlroy’s powerful call for allyship reminds us that progress requires courage: “Now is the time for people to show their true colours and support.”

 

 

Business of Golf Event

 

 

Sport for Business is hosting our second annual Business of Golf event at Carton House on the morning of Tuesday, July 1st, followed by an exclusive golf experience at the Golf Ireland Academy.

We will gather at the prestigious Carton House, a Fairmont Managed Hotel, from 10 AM with a series of conversations taking place from 1030 to 1230 and then a walk around to the Academy for a session in the bays and on the green with Golf Ireland’s world-leading coaches.

 

The Latest Sport for Business Podcasts

 

Further Reading for Sport for Business members:

Check out more of our Sport for Business coverage of Inclusion

WHAT’S UP NEXT?

Sport for Business is in planning for major events bringing together leaders in Irish Sport and Business across a range of subjects in the second half of the year.

On Thursday, August 29th we will host a special event looking at Future Proofing Irish Sport including the use of AI in sport.

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