UK LGBTQ advocacy group Stonewall claim Daniels is the first professional player to come out in the UK in the last 30 years.
“I’ve known my whole life that I was gay, and now I feel like I’m ready to come out and be myself.” Daniels said in his statement.
“Coming to this point, I have had the best support and guidance from my family, my club, my agent and Stonewall, all of whom have been incredibly proactive in putting my interests and well-being in first,” Daniels continued. “I also confided in my team-mates at the youth team here at Blackpool, and they too embraced the news and supported my decision to open up and tell people.
“I’ve hated lying all my life and felt the need to change to fit in. I want to be a role model myself by doing this.”
Daniels signed a professional contract with Blackpool FC in February and played the team’s final game of the season after scoring 30 goals for the Blackpool youth team and leading that side to the FA Youth quarter-finals Cup, where he scored in the 3-2 for his team. defeat against the Chelsea youth team.
“Blackpool Football Club have worked closely with Stonewall and relevant football organizations to support Jake and are incredibly proud that he has reached a stage where he is empowered to express himself both on and off the pitch.” , the club said in a statement. .
“We’re proud that Jake felt empowered to share his truth with the world,” Stonewall said of the news. “Coming publicly as the first openly gay player in professional men’s football in the UK in the last 30 years takes courage. We are honored to support him!”
“For a long time I thought I should hide my truth because I wanted to be, and now I am, a professional footballer,” Daniels told Sky. “I wondered if I should wait until I retired to come out. No other player in the professional game here has come out. However, I knew that would lead to lying for a long time and not being able to be myself or lead the life I want.”
“Since I’ve been out with my family, my club and my teammates, that period of overthinking and the stress it created has gone away. It was impacting my mental health,” Daniels continued.
“Now I’m just confident and happy to finally be myself.”
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