Young Footballer 'Comes Out'

[Paigntonian]

as gay. Who cares? 'I want people to know the real me', he says. His sexuality is of no concern to me or, I imagine, the vast majority of people.

[Peter Pedant]

His sexuality per se is not the issue.
I think that is too subtle for the majority on AB Ich

lots of gay footballers in the past ( not news)
and one comes out....(is news as in new as in didnt occur before)

oh and contains Latin ( or er ancient forrin) a well known AB killer poison

[Mozz71]

Good luck to him. I hope this opens the door to other gay players feeling able to be honest about their sexuality instead of living behind a mask.

[sp1814]

aelmpvw

That might be the case in metropolitan/liberal areas and definitely the case in some professionals and areas of the country.

The UK is a thousand light years ahead of many other countries in terms of overall acceptance - but I don't think we've reached the end of the road yet....although I'm sure we will do. Years & Years, Beth Ditto, Emile Sande and Sam Smith suggest we're heading in the right direction in the music industry. I can't imagine any of them being open about who they are (say) in the 70s.

Same may be true with football.

[ichkeria]

“thought we'd already reached the point where the majority of people didn't care”

Not in the world of men’s football we haven’t.
Think you many famous gay people you know and how many are male professional footballers.
Hopefully that may soon change and it won’t indeed be anything worthy of comment

[jackthehat]

He's got himself ahead of the story and can now dictate the direction any discussions about him on or off the pitch will take - a very brave decision for a 17 year old to make.
And to think, because of his age, any of his boyfriends could have been prosecuted only 19 years ago!
I wish him well in his career......and his life.

[Redhelen72]

Some would still prosecute them if they had the choice Jack!!

[Paul22118]

If at the stroke of midnight all the men in the world who are gay, secretly or open, were to remain standing upright while all non gay men were to sit down - the majority of the population would be astonished, mortified or simply speechless. There are far, far more gay men, youths or teenagers around you than one could ever believe.
Live with it or get out more.

[SparklyKid]

I remember an old Alf Garnett sketch.

He said about being gay, " First it was illegal, then it was tolerated, I am emigrating before it becomes compulsory"

[andy-hughes]

It's all very well for the woke elite on here to big themselves up by showing how much they 'don' care' by needing to post and get some attention for their indifference.

The fact is, this is a big deal, because Men's Football has homophobia stamped through it like a stick of Blackpool rock.

Although society is thankfully moving forward towards a less prurient and fear-based bigotry, the last bastions of ignorant nastiness against gay men live and thrive in football locker rooms, pubs, and on terraces.

Not for nothing have no other footballers come forward for so many decades - and if it really was 'no big deal' as the loftily indifferent want to remind us, then homosexuality among sportsmen in all disciplines would not be the nationwide, if not worldwide, secret that it remains to this day.

That is why they brave young man's announcement is important.

It will provide a barometer for public opinion , and we can see how far, if at all, society has come in its acceptance that men in traditionally 'macho' sports can be, and are (pass the smelling salts!!!) gay.

Time will tell if this man has moved things forward, or made a horrible life-changing error.

[pixie374]

We'll know it's "no concern" to "the vast majority of people"- when it is neither hidden nor announced. Neither extreme "should" be necessary.

[andy-hughes]

Peter - // lots of gay footballers in the past ( not news) //

Are you for real?

Name five.

Let me make it easier still - apart from Justin Fashanu, name ONE in the last thirty years.

[sp1814]

Andy Hughes

There are a few actually - but in women's football.

I reckon sponsors will be all over him like a rash.

Sponsoring Daniels will give instant 'brand cred' to the companies involved

[andy-hughes]

sp1814 - // Andy Hughes

There are a few actually - but in women's football. //

I am waiting for Peter's reply.

I don't expect to get one.

Experience tells me that people who get their nonsense called out on here simply ignore it, and carry on posting as if they have not made a fool of themselves.

[andy-hughes]

sp1814 - // I reckon sponsors will be all over him like a rash.

Sponsoring Daniels will give instant 'brand cred' to the companies involved. //

I think, sadly, you are absolutely right.

I really hope he maintains the integrity to reject all of those who are simply seeking to enhance their woke credentials, and their bank balances, by queuing up to sponsor the 'novelty gay' in their midst.

[Zacs-Master]

This is a really great AB Old Farts thread isn't it!

The guy hasn't 'come out' to let the general (generally ignorant) public know. He's done it so that it's known in the somewhat macho world of football. He explains it here, for anyone that can bear to listen to a gay person express their opinions / feelings.

https://news.sky.com/story/jake-daniels-blackpool-footballer-17-comes-out-as-gay-becoming-only-openly-gay-male-professional-footballer-in-britain-12614598


I don't think some of the comments are homophobic, just grossly ignorant. Oh, and if you're comments are made with ambivalence, that makes them no less distasteful. If you couldn't care less.......don't comment.

[douglas9401]

Uh-oh, the big guns have arrived, this could run and run.

[Zacs-Master]

Nah, dougie, it ain't worf it, sahn.

[Togo]

Clever move. If he doesn't make it as a pro footballer he can make a living accusing all and sundry of being homophobic. Sue the Club , manager, team mates, press ... his future is guaranteed.

[sp1814]

Togo

Are you playing Devil's Advocate???

[Peter Pedant]

Dear old andy - wait on!

it is a difficult concept - being gay and being in the closet.
You may not have heard of that.

and jake D is 'out' - yes there arent many gay 'out' footballers (two I think)
but of course that does not mean....there are no gay footballers

you really knew that didnt you?
if not, read and learn