'Officially' gay! Referees Dan McFarlane and Mikey Connor on coming out in football and LGBTQ+ mental health

It can feel like the toughest decision you'll ever make - but
being true to yourself, your teammates, coaches and colleagues is
the winning feeling that every LGBTQ+ person in football
deserves.


On this episode of the FvH Podcast, Jon Holmes is joined by two
referees for a conversation about the upsides of coming out and
how to look out for others when they might be feeling down.


Dan McFarlane is a Category 1 ref taking charge of games in the
SPFL. He's been out within Scottish football officiating for
several years and says authenticity has been an essential part of
his rise up the leagues.


Mikey Connor will be familiar to viewers of BBC reality dating
show 'I Kissed A Boy' - but he's also a Liverpool FA referee at
grassroots level. Like Dan, he's a member of the LGBTQ+
Professionals in Football Collective, a network group run by FvH
that's bringing together those from the community who are working
in the game.


In a chat with host Jon Holmes to coincide with World Mental
Health Day and Coming Out Day on October 10 and 11, the two men
in the middle share their stories, offer advice to other gay and
bi guys who might be finding it hard to break out of the closet,
and assess the challenges that are still being faced in men's
football.


It's a refreshing and open conversation that can help listeners
to unlock their potential, on and off the pitch - and it might
just encourage you to pursue officiating as well.


Links


Football v Homophobia - https://www.footballvhomophobia.com/


Sports Media LGBT+ - https://sportsmedialgbt.com/


Mikey and Dan’s profiles on the LGBTQ+ Professionals in Football
Collective (see links to their socials) -
https://lgbtqfootball.com/who-are-we/ 


Dan on referee recruitment (Press & Journal) -
https://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/sport/football/6186347/referees-encourage-new-faces-to-pick-up-the-whistle/ 


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