When 17-year-old Jake Daniels publicly came out as gay on Monday, phones rang as British media rushed to release news. That’s a big story.
In less than 24 hours, the young footballer has become a household name; Written on front pages, discussed on morning TV, mentioned countless times on social media and praised by British Prime Minister Boris Johnson.
“I’ve known all my life that I’m gay and now I feel like I’m ready to come out and be myself,” said the English footballer in his statement.
As of Monday, Adelaide United’s Josh Cavallo was currently the only top openly gay male footballer in the world. Daniels is the first professional male player to come out as gay in the UK in the last 30 years, says British LGBTQ advocacy group Stonewall.
Justin Fashanu was the first and so far only active male footballer in the UK to speak publicly about being a gay man. That was 32 years ago. Fashanu played for seven years but took his own life at the age of 37.
Daniel’s courage should not be taken lightly. Men’s football is struggling to keep up with the rest of society and unfortunately in 2022 UK football needed a pioneer and a teenager who made his first-team debut for Blackpool just two weeks ago.
“I’m ready to be myself,” Daniels said in his statement, before adding it was a “step into the unknown.”
Remarkably, Daniels is not a seasoned pro, but a player who has established himself in the game. He is a 17-year-old who plays in the second division of English football and has only recently signed his first professional contract.
He has demonstrated leadership and strength that belie his age, although he admitted he had also made himself an easy target for society fanatics.
Just last month, a football fan was banned by a British court from watching live football for three years for shouting homophobic abuse at a Premier League game between Brighton and Hove Albion and Arsenal in October 2021.
“Shout whatever you want,” Daniels said, “it won’t make any difference.”
guide
Daniels is the player who scored four goals in a youth game the day after he told his mum and sister. Secrets can be a burden, after all, so the freedom to be himself off the pitch gave him the freedom to express himself on it.
Reaction to Daniels’ announcement was positive. The world of football, at least its players, pundits and governing bodies, has united.
Thomas Hitzlsperger, who came out after retiring, tweeted Daniels “well done” and former Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand tweeted: “Huge respect for this brave decision.”
“Thank you for your guidance,” wrote Guardian journalist Barney Ronay, former England striker Gary Lineker told the BBC others will follow Daniel’s path, while the Daily Mail wrote: “… it’s hard to imagine him being alone for long will. ”
Living life as an authentic self is not a privilege enjoyed by everyone, especially when living in the public eye, and as such the response to Daniel’s announcement is significant because it will not only help the player himself, but may encourage others to do the same , also to share their stories.
Football feels a little more inclusive today thanks to Daniels because representation is indeed important.
Issues that cannot be addressed by a man’s determination to be himself naturally remain in sport. Daniels alone cannot change that.
Men’s professional football is still lagging behind women’s football – there were 40 openly gay, lesbian and bisexual players at the 2019 Women’s World Cup – and other sports.
Daniels, who said he had known he was gay since he was five or six, received support from his club and Stonewall before making his statement and he will need that to move on as it can be a heavy burden to be a pioneer. He is a young man at the beginning of his career. A young man few would have heard of before Monday.
There will be more headlines, more interviews, but his sexuality shouldn’t be what defines him for us.
Former England international Casey Stoney summed it up well She said: “Wouldn’t it be great if we got to a point where we didn’t have to use the words ‘courage and bravery’ to describe someone who is comfortable being themselves.”