Theshigo Washidu Posted May 16, 2022 Posted May 16, 2022 (edited) Quote "I told my mum and my sister. The day after we played Accrington and I scored four, so it just shows how much of a weight off the shoulders it was and a massive relief." Blackpool forward Jake Daniels speaks exclusively on becoming the UK's first male professional footballer to come out publicly as gay since Justin Fashanu. Jake talks about coming out to his parents, his club, and his team-mates. On his desire to be honest and live his life without telling a lie. On the anxiety of wondering if his family and team-mates would be supportive and on how he hopes his actions can help others do the same. Now is the right time to do it. I feel like I am ready to tell people my story. I want people to know the real me. I have been thinking for a long time about how I want to do it, when I want to do it. I know now is the time. I am ready to be myself, be free and be confident with it all. I can't really put a date on it, but I was probably five or six years old when I knew I was gay. So it's been a long time that I have been living with the lie. At that age you don't really think that football and being gay doesn't mix. You just think, one day, when I'm older I'll get a girlfriend and I will change and it will be fine. But as you get older you realise you can't just change. It doesn't work like that. I did have girlfriends in the past, to try and make all my mates think I was straight, but it was just a massive cover-up. In school people even used to ask me: "Are you sure you aren't gay?". And I would reply, "no, I'm not". I wasn't ready and it was a struggle but I just don't want to lie any more. For a long time I've thought I would have to hide my truth because I wanted to be, and now I am, a professional footballer. I asked myself if I should wait until I've retired to come out. No other player in the professional game here is out. However, I knew that would lead to a long time of lying and not being able to be myself or lead the life that I want to. Since I've come out to my family, my club and my team-mates, that period of overthinking everything and the stress it created has gone. It was impacting my mental heath. Now I am just confident and happy to be myself finally. I first told my mum and my sister, who I live with. "Yeah, we already knew," was how they reacted. Then we told my whole family and at this point I was quite scared because I didn't know how the older generation might react. I needn't have worried. I've had so many messages saying, "we are proud and we are supportive." It's been amazing. I couldn't have wished for it to go better. The day after I told my mum and sister, we played Accrington [in an under-18s fixture] and I scored four goals, so it just shows how much of a weight off the shoulders and what a massive relief it was. And Blackpool have been absolutely amazing too. I am with them every day and I felt safe. My team-mates have all been so supportive about it and everyone has had my back. They've been asking tons of questions, they have all been intrigued and their reaction has been brilliant. It's the best thing I could have asked for. Of course, everyone was kind of shocked in a way and they were asking why I didn't tell them earlier. That was a great reaction because it showed how much they cared. The captain was one of the main people I told and he also asked me loads of questions. In the end he just said, "I'm just so proud of you". It meant so much. I like it when people ask questions. I just want to get it all out and for people to hear my story. Of course I am aware that there will be a reaction to this and some of it will be homophobic, maybe in a stadium and on social media. It's an easy thing for people to target. The way I see it is that I am playing football and they are shouting stuff at me, but they are paying to watch me play football and I am living my life and making money from it. So shout what you want, it's not going to make a difference. I won't stop people from saying that stuff, I just need to learn how to not let it affect me. I am hoping that by coming out, I can be a role model, to help others come out if they want to. I am only 17 but I am clear that this is what I want to do and if, by me coming out, other people look at me and feel maybe they can do it as well, that would be brilliant. If they think this kid is brave enough do this, I will be able to do it too. I hate knowing people are in the same situation I was in. I think if a Premier League footballer does come out that would just be amazing. I feel like I would have done my job and inspired someone else to do that. I just want it to go up from here. We shouldn't be where we are right now. I know that every situation is different and that there are a lot of different factors for other people to consider that will scare them a lot, especially in football. And if you think you are ready, then speak to people. I know that's such a hard thing to do, it was a hard thing for me to do, but just speak to the closest people around you, you are going to get support you need. Jake Daniels posted an open letter on Blackpool's website. Read more here. https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11095/12614531/jake-daniels-blackpool-forward-becomes-uks-first-active-male-professional-footballer-to-come-out-publicly-as-gay Edited May 17, 2022 by St. Francis
ATRL Moderator wehavetostan Posted May 16, 2022 ATRL Moderator Posted May 16, 2022 Aww congrats to him
MaxxiPad Posted May 16, 2022 Posted May 16, 2022 Aww, he's only 17, good for him. I'm sure he's going to inspire a lot of other LGBT young people.
nathanspears Posted May 16, 2022 Posted May 16, 2022 Britney Spears goes to Blackpool once and look what happens
LustSpell Posted May 16, 2022 Posted May 16, 2022 I read Blackpink for a second and got VERY confused But good for him! It'll inspire a lot of young people to be more comfortable as well. Also he looks A LOT older than 17? He looks mid/late 20s
Mr. Blue_Shirt Posted May 16, 2022 Posted May 16, 2022 I remember someone made a thread in here about the rumor that a currently active footballer would come out as gay but it was never revealed, i think Maybe that rumor was about him and I'm happy that he's now ready to come out
Bethenny Frankel Posted May 16, 2022 Posted May 16, 2022 good for him, he can be a positive role model for the youth!
Johnny Jacobs Posted May 16, 2022 Posted May 16, 2022 Another one in the basket (I know it basketball dont come 4me) congrats sweetie
MaxxiPad Posted May 16, 2022 Posted May 16, 2022 Here's a video where he discusses coming out: I'm also kind of shook that he was born in 2005. He wasn't alive when L.A.M.B. came out
Right Now Posted May 16, 2022 Posted May 16, 2022 That’s great, good for him! But wow that facial hair makes him look way older.
UseYourIllusion2002 Posted May 16, 2022 Posted May 16, 2022 Wait I’m 3 years older than him? I thought he was 25
Аshanti Posted May 16, 2022 Posted May 16, 2022 He's 17 but he's playing like the big league? idk how soccer works but damn good for him
TaggedGalaxy Posted May 16, 2022 Posted May 16, 2022 Mess I thought he was older. Let me keep it cute, happy for him
Zaram Posted May 16, 2022 Posted May 16, 2022 He doesn't look 17 at all. Poor guy will looking like a daddy with 30
Pikachoo Posted May 16, 2022 Posted May 16, 2022 CONGRATULATIONS!!! It's about time people starting seeing gay people as more than just pop culture memes
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