LGBTQ+ HISTORY MONTH 2023

Here we are again, February 2023, and LGBTQ+ History Month.

On this day, a very significant sportsperson in Britain was born. Justin Fashanu. He is a personal hero of mine and one of the bravest people we have ever seen in this country. To say the words “I AM GAY” on the 22nd October 1990, as an elite sportsperson was a frontier-breaking milestone that has taken 30 years for sportsmen (in particular) to reach this level of courage, in a modern society of understanding. Something Justin never had. He had courage that cost him his life.

I once saw him play for Torquay in 1993 at a level far below where his talent really stood. The level of abuse he received without resistance from the Northampton Town supporters was a travesty to footballing society and culture. Yet he would undergo this pressure and hatred every game he played. This is a courage that many would never understand. Working to be his best despite the bile.

The news yesterday, heralded another LGBT footballer to brave the moment of stepping into the light to make life more authentic as an elite sportsman.

Jakub Jangto, a Czech Republic international has announced his preference to be in a relationship with another man and we can only wish him the very best. The club announced this very wonderful line to the world, "No further comment. No further questions. You have our support. Live your life, Jakub." I think this is extremely powerful and is all that is necessary. “You have our support. Live your life”. These seven words make us all equal….If only Justin Fashanu would have received these words.

To hear them spoken is a fantastic step forward for humanity and the LGBTQ+ community. Humans are not a textbook, we are biological, complex, emotional, and irrational beings, and the fact we have the chance to be free to love anyone and everyone is amazing.

I noted there was a census in January that announced the UK had 750,000 citizens identifying as gay or lesbian and a further 625,000 who identify as bisexual. Within this large group of brave people who identify in this manner are hundreds upon hundreds of keen sportspeople. The progress being made within the sports world for inclusivity and openness is a joy to see.

I was an enthusiastic footballer training at Northampton Town in a YTS system. Keen to make a mark in a society scarred by the AIDS pandemic that cut the LGBT community so deeply. I can speak with authority that having the feeling to be yourself is what you need to reach your own sporting potential. I have self-harmed, miss-identified, repressed my sexuality, and been in highly suppressive environments. I had a gun pointed at my head, I have been subjected to homophobic abuse on the playing field, and in my local town, threatened with violence. I have felt the terror of moving from one club to another when you feel the pressure of the coming out process yet again, with teammates and the “do I or don’t I” question constantly running. I even tried to use hypnosis to discourage gay thoughts and feelings and encourage a “straight” manner of life.

Why did I do all of this to myself? I wanted to be a sportsman.

A footballer, a golfer, and an athlete to be included and accepted for my competitive spirit and drive I had to be better at my chosen sport. I loved sport. I won awards at school for representing the school in any sport I could. I didn’t even identify as LGBT for years, because I didn’t think sports people were LGBT. I thought they were all 'straight' and because I liked sports, I thought I was straight too.

These severe actions and thoughts manifested due to the miss-calculation I thought people would hate me if I was open and free to be, still have damaging effects on me today. In the 1990’s I was right. When I did 'come out' in the 2000’s life had moved on a bit. Today it has moved on to a level I could only imagine as a young sportsperson who is either fluid and undecided, or outright gay. What a joy it must be for them.

Sport is the last frontier for acceptance of an LGBTQ+ person, especially for a sportsman to be able to express a competitive character in an environment still dominated by the misconception that you need to be in a straight relationship for you to be an authentic winner at your chosen sport.

Sportswomen have to be applauded for smashing through this barrier in abundance, and it is now time for sportsmen to step forward and be the men they are and take sport onto an equal footing of open sexuality.

Times are changing and society is growing and developing. We are all better for it. I cannot wait for the next highly talented, Justin Fashanu to emerge.

Happy Birthday Justin, 19th February 1960 - 2nd May 1998