Jake Daniels is the first openly gay active professional footballer

Jake Daniels is the first openly gay active professional footballer in British
to come out as gay since Justin Fashanu in 1990. So, let’s read more about this fantastic coming-out story. Let’s hear the interview he gave earlier for Sky Sports News.

Who’s Jake Daniels?

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

©Sky News

“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 followed his dream of a football career. After a decision that involved consultation with his family, his club, the LGBTQ charity Stonewall and Sky Sports, who first reported the news, Daniels explained why he chose to come out when generations of players before him had felt incapable.

“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,” he said. “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, club, and teammates, that period of overthinking everything and the stress it created has gone.”

Why is his coming-out so important?

“I am hoping that I can be a role model by coming out to help others come out if they want to. I am only 17, but I am clear that this is what I want to do, and if, by me coming out, other people look at me and feel maybe they can do it as well, that would be brilliant. If they think: ‘this kid is brave enough to do this, I will be able to do it too.'”

Daniels’ revelation is a remarkable milestone when men’s football is more involved with social problems than in recent times but is still incapable of citing progress in LGBTQ representation within the game.

Amal Fashanu, Justin’s niece, who runs a charitable foundation in his name, said that Daniels’ decision would “come as a huge comfort to the many footballers at all levels of the game still secretly living as gay and who still feel unable to come out.

Born in Bispham, near Blackpool, Daniels made his way up through the club’s youth ranks before signing a senior contract with the club this year. He made his debut as a substitute in a Championship fixture against Peterborough this May. He revealed that the day after coming out to his family, he had played for the club in a youth fixture against Accrington Stanley. “I scored four goals,” he said, “showing how much of a weight off the shoulders.”

The public reaction has been overwhelmingly positive. At home, teammates, clubs, and fans of all ages and orientations have praised him, with some relaying their own experiences in coming to terms with their sexuality.

Jake Daniels is the first openly gay active professional footballer – the final thoughts

Globally there are only a few openly gay male footballers. In 2019, former Newcastle Jets player Andy Brennan became Australia’s first professional male footballer to come out while still playing the game.

So, congratulations, “Championship player Jake Daniels comes out as the only openly gay male footballer.” You are the inspiration to all of us!