Scotland's first openly gay footballer Zander Murray to host Pride events in Glasgow
Scotland's first openly gay professional footballer Zander Murray is set to headline Pride events in Glasgow.
The 33-year-old, who played for Bonnyrigg Rose and Gala Fairydean Rovers before retiring, will host a Lunch and Learn session on Wednesday, June 25, at The Social Hub in the Merchant City area.
He hopes to share his personal journey, the challenges he's faced, and how visibility and representation can help create a more inclusive future for LGBTQ+ athletes. He will also host a community dinner at the venue on Thursday, July 17, a celebration of connection, collaboration, and creativity.
Speaking ahead of the events, Zander said: 'In a city that means so much to me, this kind of event matters. It's not just about being seen. It's about being heard.'
They form part of the venue's temporary name change to the "Pride Hub" and programme of inclusive events throughout July.
Zander made headlines after coming out during his playing career by way of a quiet post on Facebook in 2022. He has also investigated homophobia in Scottish football in a documentary for the BBC's Disclosure programme.
He recalled: 'I was just sitting on a balcony in Benidorm, no Instagram, no Twitter, just me thinking, I'm 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.
"I 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.
'I didn't 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.
'You don't get slagged for missing a pass. They go for your sexuality. Twitter, TikTok, the comments. It's brutal. And it messes with your head. You're already under pressure just being a footballer. Add all that, and it's too much.'
Since then, Zander has become a tireless advocate for inclusivity in sport.
He is now an award-winning keynote speaker, delivering talks and workshops across schools, football academies and corporate organisations including LinkedIn, Morgan Stanley, UEFA and the Hong Kong Gay Games, helping to shift attitudes and win over hearts and minds.
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Zander said: 'I go into rooms of young boys and ask three questions. Who's heard homophobic language this month? In this club? Who's said it? And after I tell my story, you can see the penny drop. That moment is when things start to change.'
Zander has travelled across the UK and internationally for advocacy work, from the Gay Games in Hong Kong to Pride events in Manchester and London, but says returning to Glasgow always hits differently.
He added: 'Any work in Glasgow means everything to me. I don't have to slow my voice down. The crowds get it. I'm from here. It's personal. I see my younger self in all of them.
'You 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's the power of doing it here.
'When 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've saved my life.
'They're smashing it at The Social Hub. Hosting sober events, listening, adapting. You feel seen there, and it's actually for the community.'
Zander's upcoming event forms just part of the venue's temporary rebrand as the 'Pride Hub' for July, with a focus on inclusive, community-led programming.
He said: "They asked for my input and actually acted on it. That doesn't happen often. It's a real partnership. No egos, just action. More of that, please.'
In 2018, Zander's intense schedule and unprocessed stress caught up with him, forcing him to confront his own health and burnout.
'I burned out. Shingles, chronic fatigue. I've never fully shaken it. But it pushed me into something new," he said.
"Now I'm thinking about training as a trauma-informed coach. I've got the psychology background, the lived experience, and the drive to help other people who feel like I used to.
'My 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've made peace with yourself, then you're ready. The hate will come. But so will the impact.'
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