A transgender athlete in Ireland who made a name for himself playing Gaelic football against young women and teen girls, recently received the 2023 Galas LGBTQ+ Sports Award presented in Dublin.

“Giulia Valentino, formerly Marco Valentino and 39 years old, was praised as a ‘trailblazer’ by Gay Community News in an article announcing that he was a recipient of the 2023 Galas LGBTQ+ Sports Award, which was presented to him in Dublin on October 7,” reported Reduxx.

The Gay Community News (GCN) hailed Valentino for his “bravery and grace” by “continuously standing up for trans women in sport” amid “considerable transphobic hate and lies.”

“Giulia was initially excluded from Irish rugby due to a transphobic IRFU ban, but [his] outstanding advocacy and work with TENI moved the LGFA to create a trans-inclusive policy so that trans women can fully and safely participate in GAA (Na Gaeil Aeracha) and rugby (Emerald Warriors),” it wrote.

“Upon receiving [his] award, Giulia shared [he] is a proud member of Emerald Warriors, that [he] was honored to be recognized, and thanked everyone for supporting [him] through a ‘tough but incredible year,'” it added.

As noted by Reduxx, Valentino rose to prominence by playing against young women and teenage girls in the Ladies Gaelic Football Junior-J Shield tournament last summer.

People walk with a Rainbow flag on a football field in Cologne, western Germany, on June 23, 2021. – With Germany due to play Hungary on June 23, 2021, at the Allianz Arena in Munich. (SASCHA SCHUERMANN/AFP via Getty Images)

“Photos from the tournament game began to circulate on social media after sports writer Ewan MacKenna called attention to the results, prompting outcry,” it wrote. “One widely-shared photo shows Valentino, then 37 years old, on the field next to a much younger female opponent who appeared to be in her teens.”

The girl in the photo was later confirmed to be a minor in her teens.

Paul Roland Bois directed the award-winning feature film EXEMPLUM, which can be viewed for FREE on YouTube or Tubi. A high-quality, ad-free stream can also be purchased on Google Play or Vimeo on Demand. Follow him on Twitter @prolandfilms or Instagram @prolandfilms.