Jake Daniels

2022 - 5 - 16

Post cover — Image courtesy of "Sky Sports"

Jake Daniels: Blackpool forward becomes UK's first active male ... (Sky Sports)

Blackpools Jake Daniels tells his story to Sky Sports about becoming the UKs first male professional footballer to come out publicly as gay since Justin ...

It's up to all of us to make that happen, which is why we should all speak out against discrimination and in support of the LGBTQ+ community." The FA: "Jake, you are an inspiration to us all and we fully support your decision to be open about this part of yourself. "I was approached by Jake's representatives at the start of the year after he had decided that he wanted to come out publicly. Now I can just live my life how I want to and you know what? I feel like I would have done my job and inspired someone else to do that. I am hoping that by coming out, I can be a role model, to help others come out if they want to. 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. The captain was one of the main people I told and he also asked me loads of questions. Now I am just confident and happy to be myself finally. . And I would reply, "no, I'm not". "I told my mum and my sister. So it's been a long time that I have been living with the lie.

Jake Daniels becomes first UK male footballer to come out as gay ... (The Guardian)

Blackpool forward Jake Daniels has described his 'massive relief' at coming out, becoming the first active UK male footballer since Justin Fashanu.

“If my Uncle Justin were alive I know he would have been one of the first people to have contacted Jake to offer his support and best wishes,” she said. “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. “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,” he said. “I feel like I am ready to tell people my story. “Now is the time to do it,” he said.

Jake Daniels: Blackpool footballer, 17, comes out, becoming only ... (Sky News)

A 17-year-old player has come out, becoming the only openly gay male professional footballer in Britain. Blackpool forward Jake Daniels said he has received " ...

Jake Daniels says he wants to help make the game he loves a better more welcoming place and already feels liberated and massively supported. Anyone who has a problem with his decision needs to have a long hard look at themselves. On coming out, he said: "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. "Everything has kind of happened at once but it feels right. It's a 17-year-old telling us who he is. Then there is the cesspit of social media abuse. So it has been a struggle." I couldn't have wished for it to go better. A pretty unremarkable thing. "I needn't have worried. It was impacting my mental health. "But I just knew that was just such a long time of just lying and not being able to have what I want," he said.

Jake Daniels: Blackpool player becomes first UK professional male ... (The Independent)

Blackpool's Jake Daniels said he had been 'living a lie' and hoped to now inspire other players to follow in his footsteps.

“Stonewall is proud to provide ongoing support to Jake, his close network and Blackpool FC to navigate the challenges of coming out in the public eye. 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.” “I am hoping that by coming out, I can be a role model, to help others come out if they want to. “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 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. I am ready to be myself, be free and be confident with it all.”

Blackpool footballer Jake Daniels, 17, bravely comes out as gay in ... (Mirror.co.uk)

The teenage forward is the first British male footballer to come out publicly since Justin Fashanu, and he says he hopes that his decision to go public ...

“If my Uncle Justin were alive I know he would have been one of the first people to have contacted Jake to offer his support and best wishes. They said: "We are extremely proud of Jake and have been working with him and his club. Now I am just confident and happy to be myself finally," he said. Former Aston Villa, West Ham and Germany midfielder Thomas Hitzlsperger, who came out after retiring from football, tweeted: "Well done Jake Daniels. Have a wonderful career! I’m sure you’ll receive huge love and support from the football community and many others will follow your path. I couldn't have wished for it to go better. So it's been a long time that I have been living with the lie. "I needn't have worried. "I have been thinking for a long time about how I want to do it, when I want to do it. "At that age you don't really think that football and being gay doesn't mix. "Now is the right time to do it. I know now is the time.

Blackpool forward Jake Daniels becomes first pro footballer to come ... (Metro)

Blackpool forward Jake Daniels has become the first male professional footballer in England to come out as gay in 32 years. The 17-year-old, who signed his ...

‘If my Uncle Justin were alive I know he would have been one of the first people to have contacted Jake to offer his support and best wishes. Until the authorities take firm and more decisive action I am concerned many players will continue to live in secret, wrongly believing they have something to be ashamed of. Only then may we see more players, like Jake, willing to step out of the shadows – and live the life they truly wish to.’ ‘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’ve 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. ‘The captain was one of the main people I told and he also asked me loads of questions. In reaching this point, I’ve had some of the best support and advice from my family, my Club, my agent and Stonewall, who have all been incredibly pro-active in putting my interests and welfare first. Fashanu’s niece Amal, who runs the Justin Fashanu Foundation, fighting homophobia and racism in football, said of Daniels’ announcement: ‘The Justin Fashanu Foundation would like to commend Jake for the immense bravery he has shown today by taking this step in making his sexuality public. But off the pitch I’ve been hiding the real me and who I really am. So it’s been a long time that I have been living with the lie. ‘I have been thinking for a long time about how I want to do it, when I want to do it. I feel like I am ready to tell people my story.

Blackpool footballer Jake Daniels, 17, is first UK player to come out ... (iNews)

'I am just confident and happy to be myself finally,' Jake Daniels said as he became the only openly gay male professional footballer in Britain.

But the truth is I will be crucified.” A young man who should not have to be defined by this one moment, or this one part of his identity. But my family raised me to be an individual and to stand up for what I believe in.” He added: “The subject of being gay, or bi or queer, in men’s football, is still a taboo. Until the authorities take firm and more decisive action I am concerned many players will continue to live in secret, wrongly believing they have something to be ashamed of. There was no precedent, so everybody could only speculate on what would happen.” “People see being gay as being weak, something you can be picked on for on the football field. “ So shout what you want, it’s not going to make a difference.” “We now have a renewed responsibility to him and the LGBTQ+ community at large to work with all clubs and stakeholders to ensure that he receives the right support now, and that the infrastructure is in place to ensure that he can continue on his footballing journey like any other 17-year-old. It was impacting my mental health. I asked myself if I should wait until I’ve retired to come out.