Comments on: Coming out was the hardest thing I ever did says gay referee

By: Charlene

Charlene — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 10:25:23 +0000

Nice on Nigel! Being from Wales I know how hard it is to come out.

By: Ken Smith

Ken Smith — Sun, 07 Dec 2008 16:25:05 +0000

Yes, it sure would be easier if other gay men in so called 'macho' football world would also come out. We have thousands of footballers and I've not heard of a gay one amoung them, apart from the one who commited suicide some years back. It's a good reason to hate football, which I do, with a passion.

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By: Riondo

Riondo — Sun, 07 Dec 2008 13:11:50 +0000

Good on you, Nigel.
The world of Rugby is in any case pretty weird as far as being gay goes. Players often have a lot of sex together in private – 'just for a laugh', of course – and are very homophobic in public. Let's hope Nigel starts a positive and healthy trend.

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By: flapjack

flapjack — Sat, 06 Dec 2008 09:07:18 +0000

You've got to admire the bravery of Nigel Owens for coming out.
The rest of us have a bad enough time coming out to friends and family, but to come out in such a testosterone-charged environment which traditionally is almost as homophobic as football is a real mark of courage.
Mind you, being a referee, you have to develop a pretty thick skin in the first place. It ranks up there with telesales as a career where you're regularly verbally abused by total strangers.

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