The first openly gay professional footballer in Scotland is set to headline Pride events in Glasgow this summer.
Zander Murray, will be hosting a Lunch & Learn session at The Social Hub in Merchant City, where he will share his personal journey, the challenges he faced and how visibility and representation can help make a more inclusive future for LGBTQ+ athletes.
The former Gala Fairydean Rovers player will also host a community dinner at the venue on Thursday, July 17, a celebration of connection, collaboration, and creativity.
The 33-year-old made headlines after he came out during his playing career. What started as a quiet Facebook post quickly changed his life.
Zander said: 鈥淚 was just sitting on a balcony in Benidorm, no Instagram, no Twitter, just me thinking, I鈥檓 finally ready. So I made this wee post for the lads on my team. Fell asleep. Woke up to messages from Lorraine Kelly. I’m like, what the f*** is going on? I was literally told to get a flight to London to be on her show. It was insane.
鈥淚 signed for a new club just after coming out, and suddenly the BBC documentary dropped early. I was presenting it, doing press, trying to stay match-fit. It was too much. I had to leave pre-season camp early to lead Edinburgh Pride. Two weeks later, I was off to Hong Kong to speak at the Gay Games. The advocacy just took over.
鈥淚 didn鈥檛 play higher because I hated myself. I had this idea that if I went to a big club, someone would dig up a camp photo, post it on a forum, and the abuse would start. That fear stayed with me for years. I sabotaged myself before anyone else could.鈥
鈥淵ou don鈥檛 get slagged for missing a pass. They go for your sexuality. Twitter, TikTok, the comments. It鈥檚 brutal. And it messes with your head. You鈥檙e already under pressure just being a footballer. Add all that, and it鈥檚 too much.鈥
Since becoming the first openly gay male footballer in Scotland in 2022 he has become a tireless advocate for inclusivity in sport.
He is now an award-winning keynote speaker, delivering talks and workshops to schools, football academies and organisations such as LinkedIn, Morgan Stanley, UEFA and the Hong Kong Gay Games, with the aim to shift attitudes and win over hearts and minds.
Zander added: “I go into rooms of young boys and ask three questions. Who鈥檚 heard homophobic language this month? In this club? Who鈥檚 said it? And after I tell my story, you can see the penny drop. That moment is when things start to change.鈥
The advocate has travelled across the country and internationally, including Pride events in Manchaester and London. However, he says returning to Glasgow always hits differently.
He said: “Any work in Glasgow means everything to me. I don鈥檛 have to slow my voice down. The crowds get it. I鈥檓 from here. It鈥檚 personal. I see my younger self in all of them.鈥
鈥淵ou walk into a room in the east end and the lads are pure giggling, acting daft. But once you tell them what it was like growing up gay in a scheme, they get it. You see the shift happen in real time. That鈥檚 the power of doing it here.鈥
鈥淲hen I saw my shirt in the museum at Hampden, next to legends like Sir Alex Ferguson and Denis Law, I felt like a total imposter. But then I thought, what if 13-year-old me saw that, that could鈥檝e saved my life.鈥
鈥淭hey鈥檙e smashing it at The Social Hub. Hosting sober events, listening, adapting. You feel seen there, and it鈥檚 actually for the community.鈥
Zander鈥檚 upcoming Lunch & Learn event forms just part of the venue鈥檚 temporary rebrand as the 鈥楶ride Hub鈥 for July, with a focus on inclusive, community-led programming.
鈥淭hey asked for my input and actually acted on it. That doesn鈥檛 happen often. It鈥檚 a real partnership. No egos, just action. More of that, please,” added Zamder.
In 2018, Zander鈥檚 intense schedule and unprocessed stress caught up with him, forcing him to confront his own health and burnout.
鈥淚 burned out. Shingles, chronic fatigue. I鈥檝e never fully shaken it. But it pushed me into something new. Now I鈥檓 thinking about training as a trauma-informed coach. I鈥檝e got the psychology background, the lived experience, and the drive to help other people who feel like I used to.鈥
鈥淢y advice to anyone who wants to do this kind of work is to sit down with your demons. Properly. Have a cup of tea with them. Once you鈥檝e made peace with yourself, then you鈥檙e ready. The hate will come. But so will the impact.鈥
Zander Murray鈥檚 Lunch & Learn will take place today, Wednesday 25 June at The Social Hub Glasgow, as part of the venue鈥檚 week-long Pride Hub programme.
You can follow Zander on his Instagram page here.
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