Tom Bosworth calls on football officials to make it easier for players to come out
Gay athlete Tom Bosworth has called on more athletes, especially footballers, to come out.
Bosworth, who is a competitive walker, said that officials in football must do more to change the atmosphere of the game and make it easier for players to be open about their sexuality.
He explained: “There are plenty of gay footballers, there’s no doubt about that.
“I can say that 100% there are, and while they are supported but they are not able to come out.”
Bosworth added that he was unsure if an English footballer would ever come out because homophobia amongst fans is still rife.
“I don’t know whether we will ever see an out English footballer in the current situation because nothing is changing.
“Something has to be done about it for somebody to feel comfortable enough to come out.”
The 27-year-old, who has previously spoken about his own experience with homophobia in the sporting world, went on to appeal to fans of football to evaluate their behaviour.
He said: “These are your bosses, these are your friends. These are still human beings going to a football match.
“But what is it about that environment that makes them feel so comfortable – too comfortable – in saying things that they would never dream of saying in the work place or down the pub?
“They wouldn’t hurl abuse or those comments anywhere, yet people free to put it on social media behind a screen and do it in a stadium.”
“Stop a second,” he added. “Would you do this to your colleague? Would you say that in the workplace? You would lose your job immediately.”
The Team GB athlete won the world record for the fastest walking mile last month (July).
He came out in 2015 on the Victoria Derbyshire show and the following year got engaged to his partner Harry Dinley whom he proposed to at the Rio Olympics.
Last year, he picked up a PinkNews award on behalf of Olympians and Paralympians.
