Pride 2025 – Aidan Walsh of Sporting Pride

When Aidan Walsh stepped away from swimming and water polo as a young man, he didn’t see anyone who represented him in sport. The locker room culture, casual homophobic language dismissed as “banter,” and complete absence of visible LGBTQI+ role models created an environment where he couldn’t bring his full self to the activities he loved.

Fast forward to today, and Aidan is at the forefront of transforming Irish sport as a key figure with Sporting Pride, an organisation now in its ninth year of creating safer, more inclusive spaces where everyone feels they belong. Their work spans awareness campaigns, community outreach, and partnerships with Sport Ireland, national governing bodies, and local sports partnerships.

During our conversation, Aidan unpacks two groundbreaking initiatives making a real impact across Ireland. The “Let’s Get Visible” campaign encourages clubs and organisations to visibly demonstrate support during Pride Month through rainbow laces, inclusive signage, and participation in Pride events. Meanwhile, an innovative advocacy programme with Clare Sports Partnership is training local LGBTQI+ advocates to be voices for inclusion within their clubs.

We explore the power of allyship in challenging locker room culture and how having visible supporters within sports clubs creates safe spaces for LGBTQI+ athletes. Aidan emphasises how important it is for teammates to speak up when they hear homophobic language: “It’s constantly people standing up and saying that wasn’t the right thing to do.”

The conversation also highlights the thriving network of over 45 LGBTQI+ sports clubs across Ireland that provide welcoming environments where people can connect with others like themselves while enjoying the physical and mental health benefits of sport. Many of these clubs offer pathways back into sport for those who stepped away due to feeling unwelcome.

Looking ahead, Aidan envisions a sporting landscape where every young LGBTQI+ person sees someone like them in sport, whether playing, coaching, or leading, and where inclusion is embedded in how clubs operate year-round, not just during Pride Month.

Ready to become a better ally? Visit sportingpride.ie to find resources for making your sports organisation more inclusive and welcoming for all.

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