German World Cup Player Becomes Biggest Soccer Star To Come Out As Gay
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Although Americans can be found glued to TVs when the U.S. is playing in the World Cup, soccer never became as big in the U.S. as it has in the rest of the world. So the name Thomas Hitzlsperger might or might not mean much to most Americans, but around the world he was a soccer — “football” — superstar, until his retirement in September.
Today, Hitzlsperger became the biggest footballer to announce he is gay.
“I am talking about being gay because I want to move forward the discussion about homosexuality among professional sports stars,” he told German newspaper Die Zeit, adding that coming to accept he is gay was “a long and difficult process,” but that he has “never been ashamed” of it.
“It is only in the last few years I have realized I would rather live with a man.”
“I was never ashamed of being who I am but it was not always easy to sit at a table with 20 young men and listen to jokes about gays. You let them get on with it as long as the jokes are somewhat funny and not too insulting.”
He also said that an openly gay footballer, for “the vast majority” of fans, “probably wouldn’t be a problem.”
Of the upcoming 2014 Winter Olympic games in Sochi, Russia, Hitzlsperger says, “I think multiple voices are required against the campaigns mounted by several governments against homosexuals.”
In February of last year American pro soccer star Robbie Rogers came out. He now plays for the Los Angeles Galaxy.
Reaction to Hitzlsperger’s news has been swift.
Swedish footballer Anton Hysen, who came out in 2011, offered support on Twitter:
Just want to take a moment & say GOOD JOB Thomas Hitzlsperger!! very proud over what youve done. Extremely good for football!
— anton hysen official (@antonhysenoffic) January 8, 2014
@antonhysenoffic Thank you Anton. More to come lets hope..
— Thomas Hitzlsperger (@ThomasHitzl) January 8, 2014
Former teammate Lukas Podolski also offered support:
Brave and right decision. Respect, Thomas Hitzlsperger. His outing is a important sign in our time. pic.twitter.com/c69Oml2Ocp
— Lukas-Podolski.com (@Podolski10) January 8, 2014
And this from the UK’s Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg:
Huge respect to @ThomasHitzl for his courage today. His bravery will help break down barriers in sport for the next generation.
— Nick Clegg (@nick_clegg) January 8, 2014
Hitzlsperger is of course, rather pleased:
Hello everyone! All these messages about my news, I am overwhelmed from this and I can’t say thank you enough times!
— Thomas Hitzlsperger (@ThomasHitzl) January 8, 2014
I feel now of all time is the right time to break the news too. I now wish this is the start of many more who feel pressure to break it. TH
— Thomas Hitzlsperger (@ThomasHitzl) January 8, 2014
Image by calciostreaming via Flickr
Hat tip: Daily Mirror
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