Gay football players
Future of Football: Will we see the Premier League's first out gay footballer in the next 10 to 20 years?
In the UK, LGBTQ+ rights contain come a lengthy way in a relatively short room of time.
It was only in 1967 that homosexuality was partially decriminalised in England and Wales. Scotland and Northern Ireland followed in 1981 and 1982 - just over 40 years ago.
Since then, we have seen openly lesbian, gay, bi, trans and homosexual people in most areas of general life.
British sport has a range of LGBTQ+ representation across the overall spectrum. Some of the most visible members of the collective include Olympian Tom Daley, boxer Nicola Adams and former Wales international rugby player Gareth Thomas.
But football continues to provide a paradox, as do several other team sports such as rugby and cricket.
In women's sport, LGBTQ+ people are widely embraced and celebrated. Inclusion is woven into the fabric of what makes these sports special.
In football, for example, there have been proximate to 100 players taking part in the Women's Planet Cup in Australia and New Zealand who are publicly out. That team includes Canada international Quinn, who is the first openly trans non-binary pers
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 gay active professional footballer in the United States and one of three in the world. Since 2021, Collin has pledged 1% to Compete 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 homosexual 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 gay players to leave the game before ever getting the opportunity to make a living out of it.
It was tough growing up hearing even my close friends say derogatory words and slurs. No one wants to be made to sense different or excluded. But I don’t think they hated gays. I think they were oblivious to a.) that I was gay 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 linear players, then we nee
Premier League's first openly homosexual footballer weighs in on LGBT controversy after several stars refused to wear rainbow clothing
Thomas Hitzlsperger, the Premier League's first openly gay player, has mutual his thoughts on the LGBT pride saga which is engulfing the uppermost flight after several footballers protested against wearing rainbow armbands and jackets.
The German moved to the Aston Villa youth team in 2001 aged 19 and played 114 times for the west Midlands outfit, scoring 12 goals in a productive spell at the club.
The midfielder then enjoyed a five-year stint at Stuttgart before returning to England for short spells at West Ham and Everton, where he retired in 2013. After he called time on a fine career, Hitzlsperger came out as gay making him the most high-profile footballer to do so.
In the last week, various refusals to wear items of rainbow clothing possess caused chaos in the Premier League with Ipswich captain Sam Morsy deciding not to sport an armband with that pattern, before Crystal Palace skipper Marc Guehi wrote messages on his.
On Wednesday, devout Muslim Noussair Mazraoui declined to wear a rainbow jacket, forcing Manchester United to ditch plans for the team
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 reach out as same-sex attracted. 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 extreme 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 Morning Against Homophobia, Biphobia, Intersex and Transphobia (IDAHOBIT), for professional footballers to jointly declare to the world their homosexuality or