Everything You Need to Know About Jake Daniels: UK’s First Openly LGBT+ Male Footballer in 32 Years
For the first time since 1990, the world of professional football has an openly LGBTQ+ male player. Jake Daniels, a Blackpool Youth Football Club superstar who went on to play professionally, revealed to the world that he was gay in May 2022. He has since been praised by everyone from Prime Minister Boris Johnson to Gary Neville.
“I am ready to be myself, be free and be confident with it all.”
He joins a long list of inspiring LGBTQ+ footballers, including Casey Stoney and Lianne Sanderson. Jake showed great bravery to come out at the very start of his career, a decision that proved to budding LGBTQ+ footballers that there is a place for them in sports.
In our latest blog post, learn about the talented player and how his decision to go public with his sexuality sent ripples of positive change throughout football.
Who is Jake Daniels?
Aged seven, Jake joined the Blackpool Football Club. He was named Blackpool’s youth team player of the season in 2021, while he played for their under-18s team, scoring 30 goals for the team. In early 2022, he signed a professional contract with Blackpool Football Club and kickstarted his career as a professional sportsperson.
A month after he signed a professional contract, Jake was loaned to Bamber Bridge for the Northern Premier League. His debut with Blackpool Football Club came in May 2022, for the European Football League Championship. As a young player, Jake has shown great promise and many football critics are certain that he has a glittering career ahead of him.
Quick Facts: Jake Daniels’ Football Career So Far…
- Position: Forward
- U18s: 30 Goals Scored
- Professional Since: February 2022
- Teams: Blackpool & Bamber Bridge (Loan)
- Leagues: Northern Premier League & EFL Championship
Making LGBTQ+ History
In 1990, Justinus Soni Fashanu, otherwise known as Justin, became the first openly gay professional footballer. 32 years later, Jake followed in his footsteps and came out aged just 17, a feat of courage and self-belief. In an interview with Sky Sports, the Blackpool player said:
“I feel like I am ready to tell people my story.
“Since I’ve come out to my family, my club and my teammates, that period of overthinking everything – and the stress it created – has gone. It was impacting my mental health. Now I am just confident and happy to be myself finally.
“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.”
His interview with the sports channel received instant praise from the likes of UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson who thanked him for his bravery, and Trevor Birch, CEO of the EFL Championship, who said, “we hope that this moment helps take us forward to a time where LGBTQ+ representation at all levels of the men’s professional game is the norm”.
Manchester City and Chelsea Football Club echoed Johnson’s sentiment on Twitter, and the Premier League tweeted, “the footballing world is with you”. Since covering up his sexuality as a young player, Jake is now thriving as a proud, gay professional footballer. He credits the bravery of Tom Daley who inspired him to live authentically and come out.
Source: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/61467159
Importance of LGBTQ+ Representation
Despite the 30-year gap between Justinus Fashanu and Jake Daniels’ historic announcements, homophobia and discrimination still plague sports like football. Representation, particularly from young, professional players like Jake, is essential for tackling the stigma and proving to budding LGBTQ+ players that times are changing.
LGBTQ+ people in sports are regularly booked for public conferences and private corporate events to improve representation. They often share tips for diversity and inclusion, as well as their own experience of homophobia in sports and their coming out stories.
Hire an LGBTQ+ Sportsperson
If you are interested in booking an LGBTQ+ sportsperson, contact the LGBT Speakers Agency by filling in our online contact form to reach one of our professional booking agents.
- General News
- 18 May, 2022