An LGBTQ+ activist has said that it’s hard to meet someone in a gay bar.
Conor Byrne is the chairperson of Front Runners Dublin credits his club for meeting friends for life.
He told Dublin Live: “There’s a perception that the only way the community can socialise and meet people is in gay bars and clubs.
Read More: Vogue Williams' mum reveals the one item of clothing she would never wear
“But it’s quite hard to meet people that way because the music is so loud. Sport and being outdoors is a huge benefit. It gets people mixing and getting to know new people.
“It’s important to build friendships outside of work and family and be part of the community and feel included."
That's where groups like Dublin Front Runners comes in to give LGBTQ+ people in Dublin that freedom to be themselves while also enjoying something that doesn't involve nightlife.
“We’ve over 300 members and it’s expanding all the time. I met some of my best friends in the running club.
“I’ve been on holidays with them, we socialise outside of the club and we have breakfast after the run every weekend. It’s nice being a part of something. We encourage each other, it’s a team activity.”
Conor, who is originally from Wicklow, believes that if more people join in on LGBTQ activities, the more normalised it’ll become.
He said: “Last year I went to Mayo Pride and that didn’t exist when I was growing up. There’s Leitrim pride too, it’s slowly improving across the country and in pockets of the country where you wouldn’t necessarily think it’s gay friendly.
“There’s a realisation amongst Irish people, I think the general attitude is live and let live. There are homophobic people but if they’re happy to do that, that’s on them.
“One big turning point was the marriage equality referendum, it signalled to a lot of people that Ireland is more progressive than we give it credit for.
“Attitudes are changing, the more people that are aware of these sort of things, they’re aware that gay people are normal people.
“They’ve mortgages to pay, bills to worry about, they’re not exotic creatures that have really fabulous lives.
“The more contact we have with these people, the more normal it becomes.”
You can find out more about Dublin Front Runners here.
Read more: Dogs are battling depression post-Covid, claims Dublin vet
Read more: Three-week-old puppy dumped in North Dublin dies despite DSPCA rescue efforts
Sign up to the Dublin Live Newsletter to get all the latest Dublin news straight to your inbox.
