Jake Daniels coming out shows there is still a long way to go for LGBTQ+ visibility in football

Earlier this week, footballer Jake Daniels took a huge plunge and came out as gay to the world.

At just 17 years of age, the Blackpool star has become a beacon of hope for other LGBTQ+ individuals in men’s football. While his bravery is something beautiful to behold and certainly a moment to celebrate, it only highlights the sad reality of how difficult it is to simply be yourself.

Your sexuality should be no more of a personal statement than the colour of your eyes or a blemish on your skin. It is an integral part of who you are and yet, even in 2022, a young individual like Daniels needed such a huge backing behind him before he publicly came out.

The Blackpool forward made his announcement with the help of his club, Sky Sports, and Stonewall. Daniels had already told his family and friends that he was gay and admitted that he “needn’t have worried” about their reactions. The following day, he scored four goals for Blackpool in an Under-18s fixture.

While Daniels was pleasantly surprised with the positive reception to his news, the doubt was still planted in his mind. A society that can often be so cruel and unyielding had already made him believe that he would be rejected.

With this damaging assumption that is heavily ingrained in the minds of many, it’s not difficult to understand why so many people choose to keep their sexuality hidden.

Campaigns like Rainbow Laces help make a statement about queer inclusion in men’s football, but until more players feel comfortable enough to be open with their sexuality, the visibility remains extremely limited.

The chasm between men’s and women’s football when it comes to queer representation is, and always has been, astronomical.

Female football stars and their fans have