6 Patrick Farabaugh

Player Bio

The MGHA is my family.

I grew up in the 80s in a small suburb tucked inside a red state (Indiana). This was just before the internet was a thing, so I didn't have a way to know other LGBTQ people existed. I was terrified of being gay. I knew it wasn’t OK there. I knew my family wasn’t ready to embrace having a gay son/brother/grandchild, so I ran away.

If queer youth don’t get the support they need, they often isolate themselves. They also can have a hard time feeling like they belong somewhere. That was me. I did both. I spent almost 10 years on my own, nomadically searching 7 different states for a safe space and a family of peers.

In 2002, almost by accident, I stumbled across the New York City Gay Hockey Association. I signed up immediately because I needed a community. I knew nothing about ice hockey, but was assured by the organization that it didn’t matter.

Knowing firsthand what a profound effect the New York league had on me, when I arrived in Madison I wanted to pass this kind of support on to anyone else who might be looking for it. I went to work creating the Madison Gay Hockey Association. I'm proud to say the MGHA has done that, and more, in ways I couldn’t have imagined. If you are reading this, I look forward to welcoming you to our family.

https://ourliveswisconsin.com/article/waking-up-the-sleeping-giant/

https://isthmus.com/archive/people/patrick-farabaugh-creates-an-extended-lgbt-family-in-madison/

https://www.nhl.com/news/madison-gay-hockey-association-stresses-inclusivity-fun/c-307952508