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Organiser Meabh O’Neill said the tournament was a “special and unique” event
A football tournament that encourages LGBT people to get involved with the sport has kicked off Londonderry’s annual Foyle Pride festival.
Now in its 32nd year, Foyle Pride officially opens on Thursday and runs until its closing city centre parade on 23 August.
But ahead of the official opening, 18 teams from across the north west ran out at the Ryan McBride Brandywell stadium on Wednesday night for Football v Homophobia.
Tournament organiser Meabh O’Neill said it was a “special and unique” event which provided “a safe space for LGBT people to try sport and enjoy sport”.
Daran McCann said the spectators were really supportive
Football v Homophobia is now in its 10th year.
Boxing coach Daran McCann has played – along with a team from his boxing club – in the last three tournaments.
“I am one of the few out male athletes in the city and in the sport of boxing,” he told BBC News NI.
“It’s been tough trying to challenge the stigma so this is a powerful tournament where a lot of people will engage with other people.”
The tournament helps raise awareness around inclusion in sport at a local level, he said.
“We are really challenging people to get out and take part, and we have spectators who are really showing that they’re supportive,” he added.
Eimear Willis said the tournament showed LGBT people of all ages that they do not have to give up sports
Eimear Willis is a member of the LGBT advocacy group, the Rainbow Project.
They have played in the tournament every year since it began.
“These kind of opportunities, we either exclude ourselves from or we are excluded from,” she said.
“So it is really nice to see the stadium full of people of all ages and from all backgrounds.”
The tournament, she added, shows LGBT people of all ages that they do not have to give up sports.
“We are really hoping to reignite people and give them an opportunity to connect with sports” she added.
A total of 18 teams took part at the Ryan McBride Brandywell stadium
Other events over the festival’s 10-day run include theatre performances, workshops and a family fun afternoon.
Speaking to BBC Radio Foyle’s Mark Patterson Show, Foyle Pride’s chairperson Jason Dunne said this year’s festival had Existence is Resistance as its theme.
“That’s just like a statement to say, look, we’re here. We’ve always existed. We will continue to exist,” he said.
“We need our allies and everyone else to stand up with us and kind of stop this thing that seems to be snowballing in terms of the rhetoric around the community.”
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