We need a male player19 to come out as GAAY
All-star Doherty says Association must find ‘mould breaker’
A GAA All-star who is expecting her first baby with her wife is urging more male inter-county players to come out as gay.
Geraldine Doherty, 37, said she believes male players are still fearful of doing so in the Association which she found, in her own experience, as very accepting.
The former Meath Ladies player is one of a few female selectors in the country after she took on the role with the men’s team at her club St Ultan’s in Bohermeen.
She had performed that role with Dunshaughlin Royal Gaels ladies side.
Geraldine, a former Meath LGFA forward who won an All-star in 2005, said: “I always found the GAA to be so equal and so inclusive. My sexuality was never an issue.
“The GAA was such a safe place and it was my safe place.
“If I was ever struggling in myself, I’d go to football training that night and all my troubles would be gone away two hours later.
“It really is a good place to be whatever is going on in your life.
CERTAIN
“But I think on the male side of things, there’s still a certain uncomfortable feeling around being gay.
“If you think of it, there are thousands of guys playing GAA but there are no intercounty players in hurling or GAA, in my mind, that has come out. Not since Donal Og Cusack really.
“The referee David Gough has been a great ambassador for the LGBT community and there are a lot of ladies in the LGFA who have come out because they feel it is a very comfortable and supportive environment.
“We need a male player to come out and break that mould and get rid of any remaining stigma once and for all.”
As well as her new role within the GAA, Geraldine is about to embrace another position as a mother when her wife and fellow footballer Lesley Buchanan gives birth in April.
“We are so excited. We obviously had to go through IVF so we are so thankful and delighted.
“I was going to take a year out but when my old club asked me to take on this role, I couldn’t say no.”
I always found the GAA to be welcoming & inclusive. My sexuality was never an issue GERALDINE DOHERTY ON GAA’S INCLUSION