Though we have come a long way in terms of openness and support for LGBTQ+ people, sports environments, both professional and amateur, can still feel like danger zones
Domhnaill Harkin, creator of documentary ‘Playing with Pride’, which is available to watch on YouTube now. Photo: Tony Gavin
Giulia Valentino, a trans woman and tech worker originally from Italy, began playing GAA and rugby after she moved to Ireland in 2019. She is one of several sports players to feature in an online documentary, Playing with Pride, produced by LGBTQI+ charity ShoutOut. The film aims to highlight the importance of inclusion in sports.
Ms Valentino’s presence on the pitch was to become the catalyst that compelled the Ladies Gaelic Football Association (LGFA) to review and outline its policies regarding trans players.