Jon Holmes
@jonhholmes.bsky.social
2.1K followers 850 following 210 posts
Journalist and consultant. Founder and lead of @sportsmedialgbt.com; writer at @outsports.com; comms for @footballvhomophobia.com; committee member of @sportsjournalists.co.uk and @fwaofficial.bsky.social 🌐 https://www.linkedin.com/in/jon-holmes-sport
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jonhholmes.bsky.social
A grassroots football club’s statement about forfeiting a game due to homophobia recently went viral on social media.

The incident is similar to the famous San Diego Loyal ‘walk-off’ in 2020. On both occasions, players with gay teammates made a stand.

For @outsports.com

#FvH2025 #LGBTQfootball
Right to forfeit game after homophobic slur, says gay footballer - Outsports
News of a British amateur team's decision to walk off the pitch due to a gay slur recently went viral on social media.
www.outsports.com
jonhholmes.bsky.social
🏀 NEW: Josh Scott is one of the greats of Colorado college #basketball, a 6ft 10in forward who’s played pro in Japan for nearly a decade.

He recently posted about being a bi man in sports. Now he shares his powerful story with @outsports.com for #ComingOutDay

#LGBTQ @sportsmedialgbt.com
Pro basketball player Josh Scott feels 19 again after coming out - Outsports
Josh Scott moved to Japan to play pro, having been a college basketball star. Now he’s enjoying a fresh start at 32 as an out bisexual man.
www.outsports.com
jonhholmes.bsky.social
Grateful to Callum for speaking to me about his experiences as a #grassroots footballer who’s out as gay in his men’s league 🙏

What really comes through from our chat is that having teammates you can trust is invaluable for #LGBTQ players

🎧 listen on the FvH Pod! 🔗 ⬇️
sportsmedialgbt.com
NEW: It’s #ComingOutDay, and on the FvH Podcast, there’s good advice about how to be true to yourself in grassroots men’s football when you’re gay or bi

⚽️ Callum Hodge is a prolific striker for Chew Magna FC and has been out in the county league for many years…

#LGBTQfootball #FvH2025

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Reposted by Jon Holmes
outsports.com
Nonbinary AFLW icon designed the ball for an even bigger and better Pride Round  - buff.ly/eskzIQi
jonhholmes.bsky.social
NEW: A group of elite athletes, including gold medal-winning Olympians and Paralympians, are inviting fellow #LGBTQ sportspeople to their new network.

“Proud Champions” offers a space for those who are publicly out, and those who aren’t.

For @outsports.com
Out Olympians invite LGBTQ athletes, coaches to join new network - Outsports
'Proud Champions' is a legacy project from Pride House Paris at last year’s Olympics that aims to empower queer athletes.
www.outsports.com
jonhholmes.bsky.social
Update: #SMFC has responded to an email enquiry from Outsports, saying the club plans to release a statement “soon” and that a presentation to Andy Brennan will be organised to recognise his “amazing career.”

Will look to keep across this.
jonhholmes.bsky.social
At time of writing, there’s been no official statement from South thanking Brennan for his service, even though he’s made over 100 appearances for the club and is a hugely popular figure at Lakeside Stadium.

Have invited club to comment. South kick off the new Australian Championship on Friday.
jonhholmes.bsky.social
⚽️🇦🇺 Andy Brennan, who made history in 2019 as Australia’s first out gay pro footballer in the men’s game, has been suddenly let go by South Melbourne FC.

He’s spent the last four years at #SMFC and says it was “heartbreaking” to tell his teammates.

For @outsports.com

#NPLVictoria #LGBTQfootball
Trailblazing gay soccer player surprised to be released by his team - Outsports
Andy Brennan was the first male pro soccer player in Australia to come out as gay. He’s now leaving South Melbourne FC. Where to next?
www.outsports.com
Reposted by Jon Holmes
sportsmedialgbt.com
⚽️ Lovely touch - a new #FansForDiversity flag with logos of fan groups and organisations (including ours!), unveiled at Friday’s Meetup event at Emirates Stadium

🙏 Great to spend quality time with friends from across the game

#FFD @prideinfootball.bsky.social @footballvhomophobia.com
The new Fans for Diversity flag raised at the Emirates Stadium
jonhholmes.bsky.social
🏉 Excited for Saturday’s sold-out Women’s Rugby World Cup final, and among many story threads is the #LGBTQ representation, including Canada’s Asia Hogan-Rochester who’s publicly out as genderfluid - likely a first at this level.

For @outsports.com #RWC2025
Women's Rugby World Cup final will feature out genderfluid player - Outsports
More than 80,000 fans are set to attend Saturday’s showdown between England and Canada, with Asia Hogan-Rochester one to watch.
www.outsports.com
jonhholmes.bsky.social
25 years ago, we were all glued to the Sydney Olympics… this medal-winning gay gymnast looks very different now, but as he marks the anniversary, Ji Wallace still has a spring in his step.

For @outsports.com

#LGBTQ
Gay Olympian inspired by Cher as he looks back on medal success - Outsports
As Sydney reminisces about hosting the Olympics 25 years ago, Ji Wallace is helping today’s gymnasts dream of future glory.
www.outsports.com
jonhholmes.bsky.social
Mitch Brown is one of very few men to have played pro sports and come out as bisexual.

The former AFL player says going public is like “jumping out of a plane” and says more bi guys should work towards that leap of faith.

For @outsports.com #BiVisibilityDay
Bi guys should test out that side, says pro footballer Mitch Brown - Outsports
Mitch Brown is challenging other bisexual men in straight-presenting relationships. 'I'm feeling that rush that I'm living my truth.'
www.outsports.com
Reposted by Jon Holmes
sportsmedialgbt.com
🩵 September is the second anniversary of Coventry City’s LGBTQ+ and allies fan group @proudskyblues.co.uk, which is going from strength to strength!

🩷💜💙 … and Sep 23rd is #BiVisibilityDay, so a perfect time for a Q&A with the group’s founder Lewis Wale 🙌

🔗 Link in reply!

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A picture of Lewis Wale wearing a sky blue Coventry City jersey
jonhholmes.bsky.social
If #TeamLGBTQ were a competing nation at the #WorldAthleticsChamps, they’d have finished 4th on the medal table! 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️🙌

For @outsports.com, here are the Pride-fuelled athletes who made podiums, along with a few more queer-oes and some bonus thirst…

#WCHTokyo25
Six Team LGBTQ moments of joy at World Athletics Championships - Outsports
Thrillers on the track, formidable feats in the field, and at times, torrential rain — that was the 20th edition of the World Athletics Championships.
www.outsports.com
jonhholmes.bsky.social
Marvellous Maria Perez, now a 4-time world champion and in an elite group of ‘double double’ gold-medal winners with Carl Lewis, Usain Bolt and Sir Mo Farah.

Now chasing solo Olympic gold at LA 2028, the Spaniard is among the greatest #TeamLGBTQ track athletes ever.

For @outsports.com

#WCHTokyo25
World champion Maria Perez joins tiny group of legends - Outsports
In Tokyo, out gay Spanish race walker Maria Perez toasted her 'double double' of World Athletics Championships gold medals with champagne.
www.outsports.com
jonhholmes.bsky.social
Love this reaction from him 🤣
jonhholmes.bsky.social
🫶 Seamus Derbyshire and his Great Britain 4x400m relay teammates are through to Sunday’s #WorldAthleticsChamps final in Tokyo. 👏

The Netherlands, with Ramsey Angela running, have also qualified.

#WCHTokyo2025 #TeamLGBTQ @sportsmedialgbt.com @outsports.com
Seamus Derbyshire blows a kiss to the camera before the second 4x400m relay heat at the World Athletics Championships
jonhholmes.bsky.social
Canada are one game away from winning the Rugby World Cup, with top-scoring Sophie de Goede turning in another sensational #RWC2025 performance.

Gay icon Shania Twain said in her pre-match message: “Let’s go girls!”

Can anyone stop them? For @outsports.com
Queer stars shine as Canada stuns New Zealand to reach Women’s Rugby World Cup final - Outsports
Sophie de Goede, one of Canada’s contingent of publicly out LGBTQ players, top-scored with 14 points to eliminate the six-time world champions.
www.outsports.com
jonhholmes.bsky.social
It's been really great to connect with Jon and welcome him into Sports Media LGBT+ in the last year or so. His path towards #comingout as gay has had its challenges but how great to see him thriving, both professionally and personally. Thanks for the chat, Jon!

#WorldAthleticsChamps #WCHTokyo25
sportsmedialgbt.com
NEW: Jon Mulkeen has worked in #sportsmedia for more than 20 years and is currently out in Tokyo for the #WorldAthleticsChamps, overseeing editorial for the international governing body.

He's also out as #LGBTQ, and in the latest 'Our Stories in Sport' Q&A, he shares his journey... 🏳️‍🌈

#WCHTokyo25
Covering the World Athletics Championships and coming out as gay in later life - Jon Mulkeen Q&A
Jon Mulkeen has been working in track and field media for nearly 20 years, and is among the LGBTQ editors and journalists out at the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo; here, he discusses his...
sportsmedialgbt.com
jonhholmes.bsky.social
NEW: As one of just three out LGBTQ athletes among more than 1,000 men competing in #WorldAthleticsChamps events, Seamus Derbyshire deserved to enjoy his debut.

He wasn’t at his best at #WCHTokyo25 but there’s plenty to take pride in.

For @outsports.com
Gay athlete Seamus Derbyshire shows World Championships sass - Outsports
Hurdler Seamus Derbyshire channeled Glinda from “Wicked” at the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo and then opened up his heart.
www.outsports.com
jonhholmes.bsky.social
Seamus Derbyshire 7th in his heat and a fair bit off his PB… very humid again in Tokyo.

“I’ve had so much growth this year - but I’m human enough to feel disappointed… however I didn’t think I’d still be in the sport 12 months ago” - talking to BBC Sport 👏

#WCHTokyo25
Seamus Derbyshire
jonhholmes.bsky.social
🏳️‍🌈 Good luck to Seamus Derbyshire, who goes in Heat 4 of the 400m hurdles at the #WorldAthleticsChamps today 🙌

Scheduled time is 11.59am BST, don't miss his introduction on the start line!

Read my interview on @outsports.com... #WCHTokyo25
Gay athlete Seamus Derbyshire is going to World Championships - Outsports
Talking exclusively to Outsports, British 400-meter hurdler Seamus Derbyshire says embracing his flamboyant side has helped him qualify for Tokyo.
www.outsports.com
jonhholmes.bsky.social
💙 As #WatfordFC return to blue shirts this weekend to honour Sir Elton John, it’s also a chance for LGBTQ sports fans everywhere to celebrate a gay icon whose passionate support for his football club resonates with us all.

For @outsports.com

@sportsmedialgbt.com
Elton John 'so proud' as gay-friendly Watford honor him in style - Outsports
To mark 50 years since gay pop legend Elton John became Watford FC chairman, a special-edition kit has been released.
www.outsports.com