The power of visible role-models is well known. When a gay kid sees Stephen Fry, or Ian McKellen or Clare Balding on TV, they begin to see the possibility of their dreams and aspirations being achievable. Celebrity brings legitimacy and having legitimate gay role-models breeds validation of a community and person.

 

Outside of football, LGBTQ sports stars have flourished in Britain over the last decade – breaking barriers and providing powerful role models for a new generation seeking a space to be themselves.

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But invisibility is even more powerful than visibility. 

 

When the gay or bisexual kid sees nobody like them in the ranks of professional footballers how can they ever picture themselves fulfilling their dream? Young footballers learn early to hide or give up. Homophobic ‘banter’ in the dressing room, vicious chants on the terraces, and coaches telling them to lay low and not bring attention to their sexuality.

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If footballers reflected all 16-35 year-old men in Britain we would see at least 167 out gay or bisexual players in the four professional leagues of England and Wales. That’s two same-sex loving men in every side. We would have 36 in the premiership alone.

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Where are those hundreds of footballers?