Jake Daniels: 17-year-old is first active UK profsnal footballer to e out as gay s | CNN

Contents:

• JAKE DANIELS BE FIRST UK MALE FOOTBALLER TO E OUT AS GAY SCE 1990
• 17-YEAR-OLD SOCCER PLAYER OUT, BEG THE UK'S ONLY OPENLY GAY PROFSNAL FOOTBALLER
• JAKE DANIELS: BLACKPOOL FOOTBALLER OUT AS GAY
• 17-YEAR-OLD IS FIRST ACTIVE UK PROFSNAL FOOTBALLER TO E OUT AS GAY S
• JOSH CAVALLO: A-LEAGUE PLAYER BE ONLY CURRENT OPENLY GAY MALE TOP-FLIGHT PRO FOOTBALLER
• AT LEAST 20 FOOTBALLERS PREMIER LEAGUE AND CHAMPNSHIP ARE GAY BUT THEY'RE AAID TO E OUT SAYS EX-CLUB BOSS
• WHY 'S STILL DIFFICULT TO BE MALE, GAY AND PLAY FOOTBALL
• JAKE DANIELS: BLACKPOOL FORWARD BE UK'S FIRST ACTIVE MALE PROFSNAL FOOTBALLER TO E OUT PUBLICLY AS GAY
• GAY PREMIER LEAGUE FOOTBALLER 'VERY LIKELY' TO E OUT NEXT YEAR, SAYS JT FASHANU'S NIECE
• JAKE DANIELS: BLACKPOOL FOOTBALLER, 17, OUT, BEG ONLY OPENLY GAY MALE PROFSNAL FOOTBALLER BRA
• ‘I HAVE BEEN FIGHTG MY SEXUALY’: A-LEAGUE MEN PLAYER JOSH CAVALLO OUT AS GAY
• A-LEAGUE FOOTBALLER JOSH CAVALLO OUT PUBLICLY AS GAY: 'I'M TIRED OF THIS DOUBLE LIFE'
• GAY OR BISEXUAL PLAYERS ON EVERY PRO FOOTBALL TEAM, SAYS FORMER U.S. FOOTBALLER
• BEFORE CARL NASSIB, MICHAEL SAM WAS THE NFL’S FIRST OPENLY GAY DRAFT PICK. HE NEVER PLAYED A REGULAR SEASON GAME.
• JAGUARS ASSOCIATE STRENGTH ACH OUT AS GAY A FIRST FOR US-BASED PRO LEAGU

JAKE DANIELS BE FIRST UK MALE FOOTBALLER TO E OUT AS GAY SCE 1990

The Blackpool forward Jake Daniels has end s of silence wh men’s football to bee the first player the UK to e out as gay sce Jt Fashanu 1990. Photograph: Pl Dennis/TGS Photo/ShutterstockDaniels’s revelatn is a strikg landmark that when men’s football is more engaged wh social issu than any recent time, but still unable to ce progrs LGBTQ reprentatn wh the year Alai Uned’s Josh Cavallo beme the only male top-flight profsnal footballer the world to e out as gay, but others are yet to follow.

In six months the men’s World Cup will be played Qatar, where homosexualy is illegal, and Cavallo revealed to the Guardian he would be “sred” to play at the tournament, the pnacle of world English football specifilly, the shadow of the talented and unfulfilled Fashanu still lgers over the game. The England ternatnal me out at the end of his reer and was to take his own life eight years later, Fashanu, Jt’s niece, who ns a charable foundatn his name, said that Daniels’s cisn would “e as a huge fort to the many footballers at all levels of the game still secretly livg as gay and who still feel unable to e out”.

Jake Daniels, a forward for England's Blackpool Football Club, me out as gay on Monday, beg the UK's only active profsnal soccer player and first to e out 30 years. Media ptn, WATCH: 'I am ready to be myself' - Jake DanielsJake Daniels is the first profsnal footballer the UK men's game for more than 30 years to e out as gay while still playg. "Before Jake, Josh Cavallo - who plays for Alai Uned Atralia - was the only openly gay top-flight male profsnal footballer the world, havg e out last do 'g out' mean?

17-YEAR-OLD SOCCER PLAYER OUT, BEG THE UK'S ONLY OPENLY GAY PROFSNAL FOOTBALLER

Comg out of the closet, often shortened to g out, is when a person shar wh others that they are lbian, gay, bi and/or trans (LGBT) out is different for everyone and n take some time to get to a pot where someone feels fortable and nfint enough to tell other is this important?

JAKE DANIELS: BLACKPOOL FOOTBALLER OUT AS GAY

Only four male profsnal football players who have played the UK have shared that they were gay - Thomas Beattie, Jt Fashanu, Thomas Hzlsperger and Robbie Jake Daniels, only Jt Fashanu revealed he was gay whilst he was still playg football 1990.

The other three shared that they were gay after retirg om after g out Jt Fashanu suffered om homophobic bullyg and harassment before he died do LGBTQ+ stand for? The + is an clive symbol to mean 'and others' to clu people of all ptn, WATCH: Gay footballers talk about their experienc the game (June 2020)Thomas Beattie, who was a former youth player for English club Hull Cy, said that he felt that he uldn't announce that he was gay while still playg: "I lerally felt like I had to sacrifice one of the two: who I am, or the sport I loved, " he there are now chari and anisatns that mpaign to make football more clive and a safe place for the LGBTQ+ muny. Speakg about how g out will change his life Daniels said: "Of urse I am aware that there will be a reactn to this and some of will be homophobic, maybe a stadium and on social media.

Jake Daniels, a 17-year-old forward for Blackpool FC England’s send tier, publicly me out as gay Monday a statement released by the club. As the World Cup go on a untry where homosexualy is illegal, many global football fans are havg to reckon wh the sports' soccer remas one of the most popular sports around the world, very few players have been able to e out and enjoy a succsful reer afterwards. Gay players face prsure om teammat, ownership, ach, and fans over their are some of the men who have e out, fightg those stereotyp, and pavg the way for LGBTQ+ athlet who e after them.

17-YEAR-OLD IS FIRST ACTIVE UK PROFSNAL FOOTBALLER TO E OUT AS GAY S

Rogers me out as gay 2013, beg the first out gay man to pete a top North Amerin pro sports league when he played for the LA Galaxy that same year. Alai Uned player Josh Cavallo has e out as gay, makg him the world's only current openly gay male top-flight profsnal footballer.

"Growg up I always felt the need to hi myself bee I was ashamed - ashamed I would never be able to do what I loved and be gay.

JOSH CAVALLO: A-LEAGUE PLAYER BE ONLY CURRENT OPENLY GAY MALE TOP-FLIGHT PRO FOOTBALLER

Former Aston Villa, Stuttgart, Wt Ham and Everton player Thomas Hzlsperger is among the most high-profile former players to be openly gay, havg e out publicly the year after he Leeds Uned player Robbie Rogers also announced he was gay when retirg 2013, before returng to the game wh LA Galaxy and wng the MLS Cup. Cavallo said he worried g out might have a negative effect on his reer and add that, as a gay footballer, he knew of "other players livg silence". "It is astonishg to know that there are currently no gay profsnal footballers who are out and actively playg, not only Atralia, but around the world.

"Inspirg a future generatn Several top-flight footballers have e out once their playg reers were over, but Cavallo's announcement mak him the world's only current openly gay male top-flight profsnal said: "I hope one day I n spire someone om the younger generatn or someone else who may be stgglg.

At least 20 footballers Premier League and Champnship are gay but they're aaid to e out says ex-club bossOpenly gay Leeds Uned director David Haigh says players nfid him - and he believ clubs uld benef mercially if stars e outDavid Haigh durg his time at Leeds UnedAt least 20 football stars are gay and “aaid” to e out, a top club’s ex-director claims. He spoke out after Belgium fenr Carl Hoefkens told how he had played wh two Premier League footballers who were gay but publicly ‘ the closet’.

AT LEAST 20 FOOTBALLERS PREMIER LEAGUE AND CHAMPNSHIP ARE GAY BUT THEY'RE AAID TO E OUT SAYS EX-CLUB BOSS

Dad-of-two Hoefkens, 39, who played for Stoke and Wt Brom om, told Belgian newspaper De Zondag: “I played alongsi three gay footballers, cludg one who was a genuely big name.

WHY 'S STILL DIFFICULT TO BE MALE, GAY AND PLAY FOOTBALL

” Mr Haigh was ntacted by gay players om different top flight clubs, but adms was difficult for them to go public about their sexualy. Jake Daniels, a Blackpool Youth Football Club superstar who went on to play profsnally, revealed to the world that he was gay May 2022.

Dpe the 30-year gap between Jt Fashanu and Jake Daniels’ historic announcements, homophobia and discrimatn still plague sports like football. They often share tips for diversy and cln, as well as their own experience of homophobia sports and their g out stori. Fashanu was the UK’s first profsnal footballer to e out as gay, but his reer was celly cut short by homophobia before he took his own life.

JAKE DANIELS: BLACKPOOL FORWARD BE UK'S FIRST ACTIVE MALE PROFSNAL FOOTBALLER TO E OUT PUBLICLY AS GAY

He relled beg about “probably five or six years old “ when he first knew that he was gay so has been “livg wh the lie” for a “long time”.

GAY PREMIER LEAGUE FOOTBALLER 'VERY LIKELY' TO E OUT NEXT YEAR, SAYS JT FASHANU'S NIECE

Daniels scribed how he didn’t thk that “football and beg gay don’t mix” at that age, addg he thought he would “change” and “get a girliend” when he was olr. The young football star explaed that he first told his mum and sister that he was gay, and they both reacted by tellg him: “Yeah, we already knew. Daniels add that “beg gay or bi or queer” men’s football is “still a taboo” subject and believed such notns me down to “how a lot of footballers want to be known for their masculy”.

Last year, Atralian footballer Josh Cavalo ma headl after he me out publicly as gay a heartfelt post on social media.

Sadly, Cavallo has been the victim of homophobic abe sce sharg his tth wh the world, but he has clared that “there is no place the game” for such vile hate. Cavallo has also been open about his iendship wh Thomas Beattie, a former English footballer who me out as gay after retirement. Media ptn, Newsround speaks to a young gay footballer about his experienc g out, along wh pro footballer Anton Hysén, one of the few openly gay players the game.

JAKE DANIELS: BLACKPOOL FOOTBALLER, 17, OUT, BEG ONLY OPENLY GAY MALE PROFSNAL FOOTBALLER BRA

But the wrer of the show, Shn Duggan, said that was impossible this time bee of the lack of gay players the game: "It's que sad that 2020 when Dillon need some advice, there are no out players the Premier League. Former Hull Cy player Thomas Beatie is the latt, after Jt Fashanu, Thomas Hzlsperger and Robbie says that he felt that he uldn't announce that he was gay while still playg: "I lerally felt like I had to sacrifice one of the two: who I am, or the sport I loved, " he said.

Homosexualy is often still ed as an sult a lot of, A young footballerThere are a number of clive teams the UK that help people to feel that they n be accepted for who they are and still play football. The LGBT chary Stonewall says dramas and storyl that show openly gay characters are important: "A lot of people fd hard to image that any top tier footballers - who are male - uld potentially be gay or bi, " says Robbie De Santos, Stonewall's director of sport. However, men's football is far behd other sports when to s stars beg openly gay and Joe thks more needs to be done to make sure young gay players like him feel wele and accepted the game.

‘I HAVE BEEN FIGHTG MY SEXUALY’: A-LEAGUE MEN PLAYER JOSH CAVALLO OUT AS GAY

But rather than jt certa tim of the year, you're not gay for a month you're gay for life and clubs om any sport need to be able to show that support nsistently to say; 'listen, you're gog to be weled this muny and 's gog to be a good thg that you're out and open'. Image source, Getty ImagImage ptn, Watford pta Troy Deeney says there's probably "one gay player every team"Troy Deeney, the pta of Premier League si Watford, has said that he believ there is "probably one gay player every football team". "I thk people that are gay or om that muny fely are very worried about havg to shoulr the rponsibily of beg the first.

There are only two players playg profsnally now who are openly gay, San Diego Loyal's Coll Mart and Anton Hysen who plays Swen. "Blackpool forward Jake Daniels speaks exclively on beg the UK's first male profsnal footballer to e out publicly as gay sce Jt talks about g out to his parents, his club, and his team-mat. Of urse I am aware that there will be a reactn to this and some of will be homophobic, maybe a stadium and on social 's an easy thg for people to target.

Football v Homophobia: "Football v Homophobia would like to ngratulate Jake on takg this step to share his thentic self the men's profsnal game, pecially at such a young age. "There have prevly been players who felt that they had no place the game as out gay men durg their playg reers, but Jake is showg the world that you n be yourself.

A-LEAGUE FOOTBALLER JOSH CAVALLO OUT PUBLICLY AS GAY: 'I'M TIRED OF THIS DOUBLE LIFE'

A-League Men midfielr Josh Cavallo says he knows there are other players “livg silence” after beg the only known current male top-flight profsnal footballer the world to e out as gay. Labor senate lear and openly gay woman, Penny Wong, tweeted: “Any young person who is stgglg wh their inty, or feelg exclud or judged, n look today to Josh Cavallo.

Amerin former Leeds player Robbie Rogers also announced he was gay on retirg 2013, before returng to the field wh LA Galaxy and wng the MLS Cup to bee the first openly gay male athlete to w a major profsnal team sports tle the Uned 2019, former Newstle Jets player Andy Brennan beme Atralia’s first profsnal male footballer to e out while still playg the game. “It is astonishg to know that there are currently no gay profsnal footballers who are out and actively playg, not only Atralia, but around the world.

A-League midfielr Josh Cavallo has e out as gay, beg the only known current male top-flight profsnal footballer the world to be out.

GAY OR BISEXUAL PLAYERS ON EVERY PRO FOOTBALL TEAM, SAYS FORMER U.S. FOOTBALLER

"Cavallo is the first active gay profsnal footballer to e out Atralia's top-flight, sayg he was done wh feelg "ashamed" about his add: "I'm tired of tryg to perform at the bt of your abily and to live this double life, 's exhstg. "Few ele male footballers have e out as gay durg their Aston Villa, Wt Ham, and Everton player Thomas Hzlsperger waed until the year after he retired 2013 before g out Leeds Uned player Robbie Rogers me out while ially announcg his retirement Febary 2013 shortly after beg released, before returng wh LA Galaxy and wng the MLS Cup to bee the first openly gay male athlete to w a major profsnal team sports tle the Uned Brennan beme the first former A-League player to e out May 2019 when the ex-Newstle Jet was still playg a lower Mart, an out gay male profsnal footballer who plays for San Diego Loyal the USL, gave his support for Cavallo on social media. Cavallo said Thomas Beattie, a former youth player for English club Hull Cy who me out 2020, had been a "role mol" helpg him on his journey and hoped their example might help change thgs for other young gay men sport.

Natnal Football League team has at least one gay or bisexual player, acrdg to openly gay former player Ryan O’Callaghan, but they fear backlash for g out cludg losg sponsorships or even their place on the publicly sharg his sexual orientatn 2017, O’Callaghan said he regularly hears om closeted current profsnal football players.

BEFORE CARL NASSIB, MICHAEL SAM WAS THE NFL’S FIRST OPENLY GAY DRAFT PICK. HE NEVER PLAYED A REGULAR SEASON GAME.

Major league sports 2013, followed later that year by basketball player Jason NFL has yet to see an openly gay player on the field, and fewer than 10 have e out first was David Kopay, now 77, who opened up about his sexualy 1975, three years after retirg. Louis Rams, but was ultimately cut om the team before playg a profsnal went on to play for the Montreal Alouett as the first openly gay player the Canadian Football League before retirg for mental health reasons one of the few openly gay former U.

“You have to expla to (young people), ‘You’re gog to n to some ignorant people, but you’ve got to have fah that they’ll tch up to the rt of the world and unrstand you are who you are, ’” he a teen ral California, O’Callaghan ternalized the gay jok and discrimatory language he heard his muny, and beme nvced his fay would hate him for beg gay. Seven years before Las Vegas Rairs fensive end Carl Nassib beme the first active NFL player to e out as gay on Monday, an all-Amerin om the Universy of Missouri risked a promisg reer wh a public claratn.

“I am an openly proud gay man, ” Michael Sam, a 24-year-old fensive end, told ESPN and the New York Tim Febary announcement followed a surprisg 12-2 season for Missouri, which won the SEC East and then the Cotton Bowl as Sam was named the SEC fensive player of the year. On Tuday, Sam thanked Nassib for jog the ranks of LGBTQ football players, payg special tribute to the donatn Nassib ma to the Trevor Project, a nonprof foced on suici Vegas Rairs fensive end Carl Nassib announced June 21 on Instagram that he is gay, makg him the first active NFL player to e out. The NFL particular had faced cricism for allegedly askg prospects about their sexual orientatn and had been acced of hamperg players who spoke out favor of gay many profsnal athlet around the world, cludg several retired NFL players, had e out by 2014, no one who was still playg football had dared to make that move before story rurfaced on Monday when the 28-year-old Nassib, who was drafted by the Cleveland Browns 2016 and now plays for the Rairs, announced that he is gay a vio on Instagram.

JAGUARS ASSOCIATE STRENGTH ACH OUT AS GAY A FIRST FOR US-BASED PRO LEAGU

“Here’s the tth: Everyone ow Michael Sam such a b of gratu, ” Wa Davis, a former NFL rnerback who me out as gay 2012, told The Washgton Post on Monday.

He wasn’t the only gay man who stggled to fd a place the NFL after g retired NFL players have publicly intified as gay, begng wh Dave Kopay, who me out 1975, three years after leavg the sport. Acrdg to rearch fdgs, football supporters would like to see homophobia elimated, believe the FA is not dog enough to addrs the issue, and would feel at ease if a member of their team me out as gay. Homosexual male players football historyHere is a list of the profsnal male footballers who me out public and announced their homosexualy.

Uned and Mnota Uned FC Major League Soccer, and for Richmond Kickers and Hartford Athletic the Uned Football me out as gay June 2018, makg him the only out man any of the big five Amerin sports leagu or any top-divisn profsnal men's natnal soccer, 26, shared the news on Twter, notg he had been openly gay to his iends and fay for years, but never on such a large platform. It's an important night for me — I'll be announcg that I am an openly gay player Major League Soccer, ' he wrote on Twter.