GAA stars remain afraid to reveal that they are gay because their team-mates will ‘take the piss out of them’.
That’s the view of Dublin footballer Ger Brennan, who says that the nature of men’s dressing-rooms means players are intimidated by the prospect of coming out.
“They don’t come out because there is a fear of getting the piss taken out of them; men being men we take the absolute piss out of one another a lot, but there are never any prejudices, certainly not within a team environment,” said Brennan, who insisted that most of the things that are said between team-mates are not intended to cause offence.
“I guess bullying is defined if and when the person on the receiving end of a joke doesn’t see it as a joke and in that case you have to say, ‘Sorry I didn’t mean that’ and move on and don’t do it again.
“Some people are more susceptible to maybe feeling that, because of insecurities. Generally any team that I have been involved in, we have really slagged each other in a very healthy and positive way – that keeps you grounded.
“There is a danger of saying stuff and no doubt I have said stuff, but I’d like to think they know me well enough to know I wouldn’t intentionally go out to hurt anyone.”
Speaking to the Sunday Independent, Brennan, who hit the headlines when he came out on the No side in last year’s referendum on marriage equality, hailed the continued involvement of former Cork goalkeeper Donal Óg Cusack and his brother Conor, who have both revealed they are gay, in the GAA.
“I would say certainly that Dónal Óg’s presence in the GPA and Conor Cusack being involved in player development is a massive plus for equality within the GAA,” he said. “Knowing Conor personally he is the ideal sounding board for players who are struggling to realise their own sexuality. It will help the culture.”
