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“I just don’t want to lie anymore”: English footballer Daniels makes homosexuality public
“A message from Jake Daniels”: The English second division club Blackpool FC spread the outing of their new signing on the Internet.
© Screenshoot Twitter Blackpool FC
He is the only active football professional in Europe to have taken this step: 17-year-old Jake Daniels from the English second division club Blackpool FC has come out. And his courage has already paid off for him.
Blackpool FC’s Jake Daniels is only the second active footballer to have made his homosexuality public. The 17-year-old, who recently signed his first professional contract with English second division club Blackpool, said he was gay in an interview with Sky Sports broadcaster published on Monday. “Now is the right time to do that,” Daniels said. “I feel ready to tell people my story.”
Jake Daniels feels relieved
So far, Daniels is the only active professional footballer in Europe who has taken this step. Before him, 22-year-old Australia’s Josh Cavallo of Adelaide United had publicly come out as gay last October. The late Justin Fashanu came out in England in 1990. In Germany, the only professional to date who came out was former national player Thomas Hitzlsperger after the end of his career. In 2013, former US international and ex-major league soccer pro Robbie Rogers did it.
Before the interview, Daniels informed his family and his club about it. “For a long time I thought that I was hiding my truth because I wanted to be a professional footballer, which I am now,” said the attacker, who said he had doubts at first. “I was wondering if I should wait until I retire before making it public.”
“I just don’t want to lie anymore,” said Daniels, expressing hope that other active players would follow suit. “I’m only 17, but I’m aware that it’s what I want to do,” said the Blackpool youngster, “and if because of my coming out, other people see that and that Feeling that maybe they can do the same would be awesome.”
The decision was worth it for him, said the striker. “I scored four goals the day after I told my mum and sister,” Daniels said. “It shows what a weight I got off my shoulders and what a tremendous relief it was.”