Man Jose Kayima
Blackpool forward has become the first professional male English footballer since Justin Fashanu to confirm is gay.
The Blackpool striker confirmed the development on Monday during an interview with Sky Sports.
“Now is the right time to do it. I feel like I am ready to tell people my story. I want people to know the real me.
“I have been thinking for a long time about how I want to do it, when I want to do it. I know now it’s the time.
“I am ready to be myself, be free and be confident with it all.”
He added,
“I can’t really put a date on it, but I was probably five or six years old when I knew I was gay. So it’s been a long time that I have been living with the lie.
“At that age you don’t really think that football and being gay doesn’t mix. You just think, one day, when I’m older I’ll get a girlfriend and I will change and it will be fine.
“But as you get older you realise you can’t just change. It doesn’t work like that.” Said Daniels
The Professional Footballers’ Association pledged to support the Daniels
“We are extremely proud of Jake and have been working with him and his club. He has the complete support of everyone at the PFA.”
The 17-year-old, who made his senior debut for the club earlier this month against Peterborough United in the Championship, joins a rare band of professional sportsmen within the men’s game to identify as LGBTQ+.
Daniels follows in the footsteps of Adelaide United defensive midfielder Josh Cavallo and Thetford Town manager Matt Morton in coming out, and spoke of the outpouring of support from family and team-mates since he revealed his orientation.
