Sporting Pride and Gay Community News are teaming up once again to bring you an important live discussion on the topic of body image in the LGBTQ+ Community! The event will be presented by LGBT Ireland’s James O’Hagan, whose recent articles in GCN magazine (read more here and here) provided an honest insight into fatphobia in LGBTQ+ spaces. Joining James on the night will be Ireland Women’s Rugby International Leah Lyons and Sporting Pride committee member Roland Hempel.
Taking place on Wednesday, November 17th 2021 at 19:00, this live discussion promises to kickstart much needed conversations around body expectations for LGBTQ+ community members and athletes in general.
This interview will focus on a number of key areas, including (but not limited to):
Body image in sport
Experiences in other LGBTQ+ spaces
What needs to be done to make both safe for and inclusive of everyone, regardless of body type
Throughout the live discussion viewers can leave questions and comments for the panellists via the forum which will be picked up and addressed towards the end of the event.
Roland Hempel, Sporting Pride committee member and avid swimmer, says
“Sport should provide a space for everyone. Our LGBT inclusive clubs, in particular, provide opportunities to those who want to try something new, regardless of their physical appearance or current playing ability. Expectations around having to look a certain way to play sports or to be in LGBT spaces need to be left in the past”
To watch this ground-breaking free webinar, go to the live streaming links below on Wednesday, November 17th at 19:00
About the Panel
James O’Hagan - LGBT Ireland
James is the LGBT Champions Training Programme Coordinator with LGBT Ireland. Prior to LGBT Ireland James worked on network development in the Irish Institute of Pharmacy. James has recently spoken publicly via GCN on the topic of fatphobia in the LGBT community (read more here and here). He says that “the response to the articles I wrote earlier this year has been staggering. So many people reached out to share their experiences of fatphobia, bullying and shame as queer fat people. These experiences have made them feel unwelcome and unwanted in queer spaces. The only way to challenge this is to continue to speak out”.
Leah Lyons - Women’s Rugby
Leah is an outstanding prop with Sale Sharks who has recently also been selected for the Irish Women’s Rugby Autumn Test Series, scoring an excellent try in the opening game against the USA. Leah has first-hand experience of receiving unwarranted negative remarks about her body, something she rightly called out after being targeted by a negative comment from a spectator at an International game. Leah has represented her country at the highest level and continues to perform as an elite athlete in her chosen sport.
Roland Hempel - Sporting Pride / Swimming
Born in Cork in 1982, he was in the swimming pool at 10 weeks old! Over the years he was in kids lessons before training kids himself and then progressing to early morning training 6 days a week. His parents were involved in swimming so it was very normal for him to swim 2 hours every morning before school. At 18 he left Cork always knowing he’d have to leave to be himself - he studied abroad, discovered himself and came out! As he always felt swimming was his parents thing he tried multiple sports to create a new identity - snowboarding, CrossFit, running, spinning, rock climbing - but he eventually came full circle back to swimming.
Working in IT by day he trys to swim before or after work - some days both - as he finds swimming is a type of destress detox. He can disconnect in the water while keeping fit, and it’s great for the mind too. He hopes to start counselling and positive sports psychology next year so he can combine sport and psychology and work more in the LGBT+ community.
About the Hosts
Sporting Pride
Founded in 2018, Sporting Pride is Ireland’s sport, fitness and exercise body, tasked with inspiring the LGBTQ+ community to get active. Research shows that 55% of LGBT men and 56% of LGBT women are not active enough to maintain good health, compared with 33% and 45% respectively of the general public. As a member of the EGLSF and the Federation of Gay Games, Sporting Pride also offers LGBTQ+ sportspeople the opportunity to represent Ireland in international competitions. For more: www.sportingpride.ie
Gay Community News
GCN is the national LGBT+ press in Ireland operating since 1988. GCN reflects queer life in Ireland and is delighted to collaborate with Sporting Pride to facilitate this vital conversation about body image in the LGBTQ+ community and how we can all work together to make sport a more inclusive space & accessible for everyone. www.gcn.ie
With thanks to the Community Foundation of Ireland and the Bank of Ireland Begin Together fund
