Dumfries and Galloway gets set to welcome its first LGBT+ friendly rugby club
Organisers look forward to creating an “empowering environment”.
Dumfries is getting ready to welcome the region's first-ever LGBT+ friendly rugby club.
The process is still very much in the early stages, but organisers have high hopes for success and have begun making plans for future games.
They want this to be a space where anyone can enjoy the sport without feeling like there are any barriers in the way.
“I think the group can make a real difference in the community. It’s not your usual LGBT group; it’s based around sport and fitness, obviously, but I think it can develop into a friendly social group, supporting each other.”
The club will be based in Dumfries; however, training sessions will be made available across the region, creating what organisers hope will become an “empowering environment”.
“I think it will definitely help the community. To me, there’s a big proportion of the LGBT community that isn’t really seen by people. The number of times I’ve had someone react, ‘Oh, I wouldn’t have guessed you were gay’… I wouldn’t say it’s a turning point, but it gets the stereotype less portrayed, I would say.
“There’s not really a lot of LGBT sports groups out there. I’m trying to make it as inclusive as possible, so we’re planning contact groups and non-contact groups. I’ve spoken to people bout touch rugby as well, so hopefully people will find something that will suit them.
It doesn’t matter what your background, gender identity or game experience is; all you need is a passion for the game.
Organisers want people to know that this club will be a judge-free zone:
“I can only really speak for myself, but one of the biggest barriers is that there is nothing locally for us. There’s nothing in Ayrshire, nothing in Cumbria, in the Scottish Borders or here! I think also, a lot of people have been put off from the sport from when they were younger, maybe because of the culture around rugby.”
There have even been talks with other clubs to set up friendly games:
“We’ve been having discussions with some corporates in the region to see if we can get a facility, maybe some equipment, and then after that, a couple of games with local clubs would be great.
“But the aim is to protect the inclusive team. There are four in Scotland, and they also compete worldwide at times as well.”
Anyone interested in signing up can check out the group’s website.