Bohs and Trinity launch first national study of LGBTQI+ inclusivity in Irish football

Posted on: 25 March 2025

Bohemian Football Club in partnership with Trinity College Dublin have launched LGBTQI+ Inclusivity in Irish Football, the first national study of LGBTQI+ inclusivity in football in Ireland.

The inclusion of LGBTQI+ people has progressed substantially in the past number of years with the introduction of the Marriage Equality Act 2015 and the Gender Recognition Act 2015. Alongside legislation, there have been significant efforts made to address LGBTQI+ inequality and promote visibility, health and safety among LGBTQI+ communities.

However, aspects of LGBTQI+ people’s lives undoubtedly fall short of full acceptance and inclusion. Sport, specifically football (soccer) in the context of this research is the area of focus. The ambition of this research is to use the survey results to create policy and training recommendations.

This anonymous survey is now open and provides a chance for LGBTQI+ people over 14 to share their experiences of participating in football settings in Ireland today.

Describing the context of the research, Dr Matty Kennedy (pictured), Lead Investigator and School of Nursing & Midwifery, Trinity College Dublin, said:

"The socio-political inclusion of LGBTQI+ people in the Republic of Ireland has progressed substantially in the past number of years with the introduction of Marriage Equality Act 2015 and the Gender Recognition Act 2015. Alongside legislation, there have been significant efforts made to address LGBTQI+ inequality and promote visibility, health and safety among LGBTQI+ communities namely through two national strategies; the LGBTI+ National Youth Strategy 2018-2020 (DCYA, 2018), and the National LGBTI+ Inclusion Strategy 2019-2021 (DCEDIY, 2019)."

"However, sections of LGBTQI+ people’s life worlds undoubtedly remain fraught and fall short of full acceptance and inclusion (Higgins et al., 2024). Sport, specifically football (soccer) in the context of this research is the area of focus. International literature demonstrates that LGBTQI+ people are less likely to be out in football contexts (Cashmore and Cleland, 2012; Stonewall, 2016) and increasingly experience barriers to their participation as a result of homophobia, biphobia and transphobia (Krøvel, 2016). However additional literature reveals that the implementation of positive and protective factors in football settings enable LGBTQI+ people to benefit from a sense of belonging, support and acceptance positively contributing to their wellbeing (Callwood and Smith, 2019)."

 "To date there has never been a quantitative research project nationally which explores the experiences of LGBTQI+ people in football settings, taking into consideration a wide spectrum of engagement in the sport from supporters to professional athletes. In response this is the first dedicated quantitative study regarding the climate of LGBTQ+ inclusivity in football settings in Ireland. It aims to explore the specific experiences of LGBTQ+ people in relation to participation, openness, discrimination and harassment, barriers and positive/protective factors in football settings. The study aims to address this lacuna in Irish and international research regarding LGBTQ+ people’s experiences in football settings in Ireland. Thus increasing our knowledge of the climate of inclusivity specific to football settings and supporting more informed policy approaches and appropriate provisions, supports and interventions for LGBTQ+ people in sport."

Speaking at the launch of the study, Matty said:

“We are delighted to launch the LGBTQI+ Inclusivity in Irish Football research survey. This is an invaluable opportunity to learn about the lived experiences of LGBTQI+ people in football settings in Ireland paying particular attention to the barriers they face to participation and how we can foster a more meaningful climate of inclusivity. It is an honour to be leading this research in collaboration with Bohemian Football Club, a club who has time and time again demonstrated their commitment to social justice for marginalised communities. With this survey, we hope to develop policy and training recommendations based on the findings in order to bolster the participation of LGBTQI+ people in football clubs throughout Ireland.”

Welcoming the research, Co-Chair of the LGBTQI+ Inclusivity in Irish Football Research Working Group and Member of Bohemian FC Pride Committee, Jim McElroy said:

“We are delighted to be announcing the launch of this first-of-its-kind survey into LGBTQI+ inclusivity in football in Ireland. As a fan-owned club, we have
a firm belief that football can be a force for good. We’ve been working
in recent years to show greater solidarity with the LGBTQI+ community, through the activities of our Pride committee, the work of Bohs in the Community, and in partnership with ShoutOut and the Dublin Devils. We encourage LGBTQI+ people in football to participate in the survey and hope that its findings will help inform policy and practice in football in Ireland in the years ahead.”

Speaking about the importance of the research as a player, Jamie Farrelly, Dublin Devils Football Club said:

“Growing up as a player and supporter, being LGBTQI+ in football felt like a taboo subject with more talk of tabloid rumours about professional players than LGBTQI+ participation. More often than not, football felt like a lonely space so having a club like Bohemians step up, show leadership and really force the issue of LGBTQ+ inclusion and visibility cannot be underestimated. This is a truly important piece of research that can finally give a voice to LGBTQI+ people’s experience in football.”

The LGBTQI+ Inclusivity in Irish Football study is being conducted by Dr Matty Kennedy (he/they) in the School of Nursing & Midwifery, Trinity College Dublin. This study is funded by Rethink Ireland through Bohemian Football Club. A wide range of organisations are also working on this study, including other LGBTQI+ organisations.

You can take part in the survey anonymously at this link: https://tcdhealthsciences.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_cSiBUjjXv16DnQW

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