Jake Daniels, second English professional player to come out

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“This season has been fantastic for me on the pitch. (…) But off the pitch, I hid who I really am. I’ve known my whole life that I was gay and now I feel like I’m ready to come out and be myself.” In a press release published Monday, May 16 on his club’s website, Blackpool player Jake Daniels revealed his homosexuality.

Before the 17-year-old midfielder, who plays in the English second division, another British player had already made his sexual orientation public more than thirty years earlier: Justin Fashanu.

In the 1990s, the latter had indeed been the first openly gay English professional player, but he was playing at amateur level when he gave his interview to the tabloid The Sun. Victim of insults and homophobic behavior following his coming out, the former Norwich and Nottingham Forest striker committed suicide eight years later.

“Being gay, bi or queer is still a taboo in men’s football.underlined the young player, in an interview with Sky Sport. I think it’s because a lot of footballers want to be recognized for their manliness. And people see being gay as a weakness, something you can be teased with on the pitch.”

“The spectators can shout at me whatever they want, it will change absolutely nothing.”

Jake Daniels

at Sky Sports

Jake Daniels’ announcement was met with an outpouring of messages of sympathy from across English football. “You are an inspiration to us all, Jake.“, for example, wrote the Leicester club on its Twitter account, imitated among others by Manchester City (“Proud of You, Jake”) or Manchester United (“We are proud of you, Jake. You are an inspiration to us and many others”).

“Football is a sport for everyone, with diversity at its core, and this is a huge step in the right direction as we try to create a truly inclusive sport that we will all be proud of.”added the English Football Federation.


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