Changing Rooms, Changing Minds: An Evening with Zander Murray

On 21st September 2022 Zander Murray become the first senior Scottish male footballer to come out as being gay. Amid a whirlwind of media interest less than 24 hours later he was back on the pitch scoring goals for Gala Fairydean Rovers, within a few months earning a move to SPFL club Bonnyrigg Rose.

Since then Zander has emerged as a passionate and thoughtful champion for LGBTIQ+people in Sport and on Monday 26th June, as part of Leap Sports Festival Fortnight, he will return to the Borders to discuss the factors that contributed to his decision and help coaches from all sports across the Borrers consider what needs to happen and change in dressing rooms to allow others like him to be themselves whilst competing at sport.

This event is being organised by Gala Fairydean Rovers FC Community Trust with the support of Live Borders and Borders College and thanks to funding from Leap Sports is free of charge to coaches, students and individuals with an interest in developing sporting talent and ensuring sport is open and inclusive for all. It will help the audience better understand the struggles being experienced by thousands of athletes across the UK and provide an opportunity to discuss how coaches and organisers can create an environment where people of all sexualities and genders are welcomed, supported and encouraged.