Professional gay football players
Group coming out of gay football players: Will it happen?
What is Sports Free?
Sports Free is an initiative that advocates for greater awareness and acceptance of queer athletes in professional sports. The initiative was started by Diversero, a global community that advocates for diversity and against bullying. Marcus Urban is the co-founder of the organization.
Who is Marcus Urban?
In 2007, Urban became Germany's first former football player to approach out as lgbtq+. Born in 1971 in the former East Germany (GDR), Urban was one of the most talented young footballers in the communist state. As a midfielder for Rot-Weiss Erfurt he played in the top youth leagues and represented the GDR at various youth levels.
He almost turned professional in the early 1990s, but decided against the career move, deciding that the pressure of being a professional football player while having to hide his homosexuality would be too much for him.
What is planned?
Diversero is planning to host a platform on Friday, May 17, the International Afternoon Against Homophobia, Biphobia, Intersex and Transphobia (IDAHOBIT), for professional footballers to jointly declare to the world their homosexuality or q
10 LGBTQIA+ Football Players Who Inspire Us to Be Ourselves On and Off the Field
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“This is my message to everyone: we must be better. We must love more. Detest less. We must heed more and talk less” - Megan Rapinoe
In honor of Pride Month and to celebrate those who dare to be themselves, we present 10 of the most inspiring individuals in the world of football. In a sport where strength, skill, and determination define the game, sometimes it’s the courage to be authentic that truly sets players apart.
These 10 LGBTQIA+ football players have inspired us with their bravery, both on and off the field. These athletes excel in their sport while advocating for inclusion and acceptance, breaking barriers and paving the way for future generations. Their stories of resilience and pride remind us that being genuine to ourselves is the greatest victory of all.
Once again, os fans have had a positive impact on football by accepting players for who they are. So, let’s honor these footballers who had the strength to stand up for themselves and, in many cases, were strengthened by the support of their fans.
Top 10 Most Inspiring Queer Football Players
In 2006, journalist Simon Barn
'Slaps me in my face' - UK's only openly same-sex attracted male footballer Jake Daniels criticises Jordan Henderson Saudi Arabia move
Jake Daniels, the only openly homosexual male footballer in the UK, says Jordan Henderson’s summer move to Saudi Arabia "slaps me in my face” after previous encourage from the England international.
Blackpool player Daniels came out as gay in May 2022, becoming the first active professional male player to do so in 32 years, since Justin Fashanu in 1990.
Henderson messaged Daniels with support at the time, but the England midfielder’s subsequent move from Liverpool to Saudi Arabia hit the 18-year-old hard.
"He [Henderson] was backing me and said: 'We're proud of what you've done',” Daniels told the BBC.
"Seeing him shift to Saudi, it kind of love, slaps me in my face really. But I think the money pays well, and capital must mean more to people."
Henderson came in for criticism for his maneuver to Al-Ettifaq in Saudi Arabia, where same-sex relations are illegal, with campaigners and fan groups highlighting the perceived hypocrisy of him championing LGBTQI+ rights before making the move.
Henderson ins
Playing Proud
Only openly gay male professional footballer in the US on how to change the game
Collin Martin, midfielder for the USL’s San Diego Loyal, is the only openly male lover active professional footballer in the United States and one of three in the world. Since 2021, Collin has pledged 1% to Play Proud to make the game and society more inclusive of the LGBTQ+ community. This is a piece he wrote.
When you’re one of three openly gay male players, you get asked often if there are a lot of closeted players. But honestly, I don’t think there are. I’ll tell you why.
I think there’s an issue with homophobia at the youth level that causes a lot of male lover players to leave the game before ever getting the opportunity to build a living out of it.
It was tough growing up hearing even my close friends say insulting words and slurs. No one wants to be made to feel distinct or excluded. But I don’t think they hated gays. I think they were ignorant to a.) that I was homosexual and b.) things they thought were jokes, weren’t funny.
If we want to create systemic change, to create a sport and society that welcomes and celebrates gay players, just as much as it does straight players, then we nee
A dangerous and promising forward, Justin Fashanu was the first professional footballer in England to come out as gay.
Brought up alongside foster parents with brother John, Justin showed premature promise as part of the Norwich City academy, signing professional terms in December 1978. Within a month, he was making his league debut for the Canaries, and quickly became a regular fixture in John Bond’s side. His stunning strike against Liverpool in February 1980 – a stunning volley from outside the area – was voted BBC Goal of the Season, and has gone down as one of the greatest goals ever scored at Carrow Road.
Despite bagging 19 league goals in 1980/81, Norwich City were relegated at the conclude of the campaign. During this season, Fashanu had also established himself within the England youth setup, scoring five goals in eleven under-21 games. Fashanu’s performances and prolific scoring record caught the eye of a number of clubs, including recent European Cup champions Nottingham Forest. In joining Forest, Fashanu became the country’s first black £1 million player.
However, Fashanu struggled to imitate his form at the City Ground, in no small part due