Keighley Cougars will host a dedicated match this Sunday when they take on Bradford Bulls in their AB Sundecks 1895 Cup tie, in celebration of February’s LGBTQ+ History Month.
This themed game will take place at Cougar Park, with a whole host of events taking place on match-day to mark and support the occasion.
Keighley players will wear their new LGBTQ+ inspired Pride kit for 2024, which will be worn both on the day and on multiple occasions throughout the Betfred League One season, including during their annual Pride fixture which is set to take place later on in the year.
These shirts will be auctioned off after a game with a percentage of the proceeds going to a number of LGBT charities. The club have also developed their own in-house lager, with 10p of every pint also being added to the charity donations.
The Cougars will also showcase support for the trans community, as they are set to unveil a 20ft flag reading “Trans Rights are Human Rights”, alongside their Cougar Pride flag, which is already present at every home game.
Two notable LGBTQ+ icons have also been invited to come along and support the day. Successful drag act of 20 years, Marigold Addams, who recently performed as ‘Cher’ in Series 1 of ITV’s talent show Starstruck will be in attendance, as well as India Willoughby - Britain’s first transgender newsreader and the first transgender co-host of the popular all-women talk show Loose Women. Both will be present at Sunday’s Pride event. James Child, the first Super League referee to publicly reveal he is gay will also be a special guest on Sunday, showing his support for the club's endeavours.
In recent seasons, Keighley are a club who have worked extremely hard in promoting inclusivity, who “pledge(s) itself to the values of love, unity and peace”, whilst priding themselves on making Cougar Park a safe and welcoming place for all, regardless of who they are and their sexualities.
Keighley Cougars’ current co-owners Ryan O’Neill and his husband Kaue Garcia are a married gay couple, and, still to this the date, the only openly LGBTQ+ owners of a professional sports club outside of the United States of America.
Together, with the club, they have held a number of successful Pride-related events and positively raised awareness, creating a solid platform to make themselves and the LGTBQ+ community heard. They have consistently championed the values of diversity and acceptance, aligning with those of rugby league and the TACKLE IT action plan. O’Neill and Garcia have have become vocal advocates since their takeover of Keighley in 2019, making a huge impact both on and off the field.
The Cougars have held four annual Pride matches to date and will continue to do so with their fifth one set to take place later on in the year. The first took place in 2019 with West Wales Raiders as guests, pioneering not only in Rugby League, but in British sport.
From this point onwards, players Pride kits have become customary for these fixtures, as have appearances and performances from local drag acts, singers, and figures from the LGBTQ+ community, plus various fundraising activities - with each year’s Pride match continuing to break kit sales and the fundraising records of its predecessors.
Events have also seen dignitaries of the sport’s governing body, local council, and parliament in attendance to support the occasion, as everyone gathers for an enjoyable but important day. The club have also proudly hosted Keighley Pride in August 2022, the town’s annual Pride festival, further reaching out to the wider community, and were proudly present alongside Salford Red Devils at last year’s Manchester Pride parade.
So far, the club have raised almost an incredible six figure sum for various LGBT charities and will continue to do so, as they look to spread the message and “make Keighley a united town, and Rugby League a united sport, on all fronts.” They will be hoping to draw a bumper crowd to celebrate on Sunday, as they have done in previous years, when they continue their commitment to inclusivity and diversity in 2024.
Looking ahead to Sunday's event, Keighley's co-owners Garcia and O'Neill commented together, emphasising the importance of supporting the LGBTQ+ community, and in particular the trans community:
"Through our journey with Keighley Cougars, we've experienced the power of unity and inclusivity. As we gear up for Sunday's match, our commitment to the LGBTQ+ community only grows stronger. The timing of this event holds particular significance, as it comes just days after the anniversary of Brianna Ghey’s tragic passing - a poignant reminder of the urgent need for acceptance and understanding in the world towards the trans community'.
The Cougars are also hoping to host their traditional Pride game later on in the year when they entertain Rochdale Hornets in July. Details will be confirmed in the upcoming months.
Keighley’s full LGBTQ+ story can be found here, with more information about Sunday's match available here.
Tickets are still available for Keighley Cougars v Bradford Bulls this Sunday, where the victors will finish top of Group 2 in the AB Sundecks1895 Cup group stages, with a place in the competition’s quarter-finals also confirmed. These can be purchased online via the club’s website.
