British Pro Soccer Player Comes Out, First Since 1990

The Guardian reports:

The Blackpool forward Jake Daniels has ended decades of silence within men’s football to become the first player in the UK to come out as gay since Justin Fashanu in 1990.

Daniels only made his senior debut for the club earlier this month, but the 17-year-old says he is ready to act as a role model for others in the game after deciding “the time is right to be myself, be free and be confident” in his identity.

“Now is the time to do it,” he said. “I feel like I am ready to tell people my story. I want people to know the real me.” Daniels said he has been aware of his sexuality since he was six years old, but kept it secret as he pursued his dream of a career in football.

Daniels writes for Sky News Sports:

For a long time I’ve thought I would have to hide my truth because I wanted to be, and now I am, a professional footballer. I asked myself if I should wait until I’ve retired to come out. No other player in the professional game here is out.

However, I knew that would lead to a long time of lying and not being able to be myself or lead the life that I want to.

Since I’ve come out to my family, my club and my team-mates, that period of overthinking everything and the stress it created has gone. It was impacting my mental heath. Now I am just confident and happy to be myself finally.