Kaue & Ryan: Creating LGBTQ+ allies through sport, buying Keighley Cougars Rugby Club and battling transphobia

Kaue Garcia came out at 16 in Brazil and was kicked out by his own mother the same day — Ryan O'Neill spent his childhood at an English boarding school where two of his teachers are now serving 28 years combined for paedophilia. Twelve years later, the couple own a professional rugby club together.Kaue grew up in a country he calls one of the most dangerous places in the world to be LGBTQ+, coming out young despite the bullying and being thrown out of his mother's house after she found him sending a kiss emoji to a male friend. He moved in with his grandmother, rebuilt his relationship with his mum a year later, and eventually left Brazil at 24 to travel — a trip that took him through Ireland and Thailand before he met Ryan on a night out in Bangkok.Ryan's path was very different: seven years old and sent to boarding school with no contact from his parents for the first three weeks, a "quite Victorian" old boys' culture, forced rugby every day, and years spent dating a girl and working for the Conservative Party before finally coming out after university. The pair talk candidly about the culture clash of their first year living together, and how in January 2019 a spontaneous decision to save Keighley Cougars Rugby Club from extinction turned into them becoming the first, and still only, openly LGBTQ+ owners of a professional sports club outside the US.They open up about the transphobic abuse they receive for flying trans pride flags and appointing India Willoughby as the club's first openly trans patron, why they refuse to delete hateful comments from their social media, and how a rugby club in a small Yorkshire town became an unlikely home for LGBTQ+ visibility in sport.GIVE YOUR FEEDBACK IN OUR LISTENER SURVEY ⚡️In January 2019, Keighley Cougars Rugby club was saved from the brink of extinction by Ryan O’Neill and his husband Kaue Garcia.The married couple became the first, and still to this date, only openly LGBTQ+ owners of a professional sports club outside of the United States of America.Since taking over the club they've used their platform to champion LGBTQ+ rights, create a more inclusive sporting environment and have raised nearly six figures for LGBTQ+ charities, and will continue to do so as they look to make Keighley a united town, and Rugby League a united sport. Follow Eden on Instagram 💕Follow Keighley Cougars 🏉SUPPORT THE PODCASTEden funds this podcast to bring the highest quality content, the most interesting guests and inspiring conversations whilst working full-time. Please support the podcast by checking out the links below:Sign up to MisterBnB as a guest or host to support the podcast and find your next adventure.Use my code BBQUEERLOVE at checkout to get 85% off your entire purchase at Skin + Me!Show your support for the free content we create by buying us a coffee - mine's a brown sugar oat shaken espresso 😉CREDITSQueer Love Stories is Hosted and produced by Eden Heath, and mixed by Benji Antonio. Follow Queer Love Stories on Instagram 💕If you or someone you know has a story to share we'd love to hear from you, send us a message on Instagram or email [email protected] your love story started with Kindling Dating Coaching now 💗 Get your first and fifth Daily Doser for just £3.50 from Skin+Me to finally feel confident in your skin!Support the show