Building Inclusive Sport in NI: A Proud Day with the NI Sports Forum

Written by Gary McNevin

Building Inclusive Sport in NI: A Proud Day with the NI Sports Forum

This week, I had the privilege of representing Sporting Pride at the All-Party Group on Sports Inclusion, thanks to an invitation from the NI Sports Forum. It was a real honour to speak about the importance of LGBTQ+ inclusion in sport—and to reflect on how far we’ve come.

As someone who didn’t always feel welcome in sport growing up, being in that room meant a lot. I shared a bit about my own journey and the mission of Sporting Pride: to make sport across our island a place where everyone feels safe, included, and free to be themselves.

Since we started in 2018, Sporting Pride has supported over 40 LGBTQ+-inclusive sports clubs across Ireland, with more than 6 thriving right here in Northern Ireland. From GAA to tag rugby, hikes to team challenges—there’s now space for so many people who once felt pushed to the sidelines.

What made the day even more encouraging was how many people in the room already knew about Sporting Pride—and that’s thanks in no small part to the amazing groundwork laid by my former colleague, Martin. His energy and passion helped us build real visibility across the sporting community here, and it’s brilliant to see the legacy of that continuing.

I also felt genuinely inspired by the work being done by organisations like the Irish Football Association (Northern Ireland), Ulster Hockey, and Netball NI. All of them are working towards the same goal: making sport in Northern Ireland safer, more progressive, and more inclusive. It’s clear there’s a growing momentum here, and we’re proud to be part of that.

Initiatives like Aeracha Uladh—NI’s first LGBTQ+ GAA club— Belfast Azlans, the trailblazing rugby club carving out their own inclusive space in NI and Out & Active NI, which creates social and non-competitive sporting events, show just how powerful inclusive sport can be. It’s not just about physical activity—it’s about community, confidence, and connection.

Huge thanks again to the NI Sports Forum and everyone involved in the All-Party Group. It’s days like this that remind us change is happening—and together, we can keep pushing it forward.

Sport is for everyone. Let’s make sure it feels that way, too.