Connecting with the LGBTIQ+ Community through Sport
16th September 2025
Anonymous Get OUT Glasgow participant reflects on their experiences being part of the group and their participation in recent activities including a 4 week introductory cricket course with Cricket Scotland, Clydesdale Cricket Club and LEAP Sports/Get Out Glasgow.
I have been involved in Get OUT Glasgow for just about a year, joining last summer.
Previous to this I didn’t really participate in sports groups or clubs, I sort of shied away from them, probably due to a lack of self confidence and also not being aware of what was out there. I attended Glasgow club and went to lots of fitness classes regularly up until Covid and then didn’t pick the classes back up when they started again. I’m not sure why, the enthusiasm just wasn’t there anymore. I do try to keep fit and I walk and cycle regularly and do workouts to Youtube videos in the house. I am generally active every day, even if it is just getting out for a 30 minute walk and I take part in more vigorous exercise 5-6 days a week as this helps me to de-stress.
Previous to my connection with Get Out Glasgow/LEAP Sports, I didn’t really connect with the wider LGBT community. I have quite a lot of LGBT friends and was in a long term relationship, that was my world and I didn’t feel the need to connect with the wider community or really know how to go about it. The last time I was regularly connecting in LGBT spaces was in the early-mid 00s and I know that a lot has changed since then. This has changed since engaging with Get Out Glasgow and it has opened loads of doors for me. I’ve never been as actively involved in the LGBT community as I am now. I go along to loads of activities, doing sports with LGBT people that I never thought I would. I hadn’t even been to Pride until two years ago and again this year, which was really good and I knew and managed to connect with a lot of people from LEAP sports and the like. It has helped build my confidence to explore other areas of the LGBT community and recently I joined an LGBT choir which I would not have done if I hadn’t already mingled with other members of the community through LEAP Sports and Get Out Glasgow.
I have enjoyed various courses and sessions through LEAP Sports including pickleball, squash, badminton and most recently, cricket. At first I wasn’t sure if cricket was for me, I wasn’t interested in watching it on tv or anything and had never played it at school. I was much more familiar with racket sports like tennis, badminton etc. My experience of rounders at school was my nearest comparison but that in itself is quite different. The course was really interesting. Learning how to play properly, I found some aspects more challenging like throwing but batting was enjoyable and was more familiar due to my background in racket sports – tennis, squash, badminton, pickleball. We learned more about where to stand, how to throw the ball, how to bat properly, how to hold racket and hitting position. The coaches were very supportive of our learning/skill development. The main coach Vivek was very friendly and approachable, other supporting coaches were also very knowledgeable and helpful and provided really good practice opportunities during sessions.
Participating in the Get Out Glasgow group generally and the recent cricket course has improved my wellbeing. I really enjoy myself when at events and you get a buzz afterwards as well. It’s definitely something to look forward to, especially a longer course like the 4 week course. You also get the opportunity to think about the skills you’ve learned and consolidate these.
The Get Out Glasgow project differs from other experiences I have had in exercise in that there is a more personal approach within the activity group. It’s not just booking into a fitness class on an app with 50 others and sometimes you don’t speak to anyone. With the Get Out Glasgow events you always have a named contact from the team that gets in touch about events and shares information which is really helpful. The Get Out Glasgow sessions are also more sociable and always make you feel welcome and included. It is accessible from the minute you get in contact or fill out the form with the information you provide ahead of sessions and the people on the courses are great. I have not experienced any negative or ill feeling between people in the group or at any of the courses I have been to. The only feedback I might give is that the cricket course overran a couple times which didn’t bother me hugely but just a thing to mention for feedback.
In terms of ongoing participation I have not joined clubs or continued playing after some of the courses like squash and cricket. As these are team sports I have been unsure who to play with. I have spoken with others about this but it can be difficult to organise and get people along to play. It might be helpful to enquire whether anyone on the course is interested in continuing to play the activity/sport and maybe have support from LEAP to bring those people together to play. Cricket is particularly challenging to continue playing or join local clubs as it is oversubscribed and does not have a lot of grassroot opportunities to play when still learning the sport/developing skills.
I feel I am as fit as I’m going to be but I would like to maintain my fitness. It is more about social interaction with others for me. It is nice to do something where you can speak with people and have fun. I have found in previous courses (squash, badminton and cricket) everyone is social, friendly and it is a fun atmosphere.
You offer a wide range of opportunities to participate in sports and activities that people like me wouldn’t get the chance to. I have quite a wide circle of friends and none of them have played cricket so it is a talking point for sure. I can’t fault Get Out Glasgow for the way you arrange and deliver the sessions and I’m really grateful to have the opportunity to do them when they come up.
I intend to continue to participate in Get out Glasgow and I really fancy trying a rowing course in future as I missed the opportunity to participate in a rowing taster session during Festival Fortnight. I would be really keen to try this out after hearing great feedback from those that attended. I would also be interested in trying padel, Krav Maga self defence and fencing.
