More and more professional athletes are publicly declaring their homosexuality; although they are still few and some of them prefer to wait until the end of their professional careers to make their orientation known, somehow minimizing the possible consequences.
The last of them was the footballer of 17 years Jake Daniels, who plays for Blackpool and is, to date, the only active player in the English league who has had the courage to do so. Precisely in a new interview with the newspaper Evening Standard, the media David Beckham argued that living sexuality naturally and without secrecy should no longer be a matter of courage in the world of sports .
For the star of the ball, it is inconceivable that some sectors of public opinion face with surprise, and even hostility, a dynamic that should already be normalized in the 21st century, in any society and ambit. However, regardless of the progress made in recent decades, the world of football that he knows so well is still contaminated by homophobia and racism.
“It is a pity that, when someone comes out of the closet, there are still people who think it is something strange. It isn’t and it shouldn’t be. Ultimately, we will realize that there are a lot of gay people in sport, and that they are no different from other athletes”, explained the charismatic former Manchester United and Real Madrid player. “I was a professional for 22 years. I saw a lot of homophobia and racism. Really, I think things are changing; but there is still a lot of work to be done”, he warned.
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