Since when were we bothered about in the closet celebs. I would think most of them come out quite early on as it is a non-issue really today and they have nothing to lose by doing so.
Closet gay sports-stars are where the focus should be, as very few of them have been brave enough to come out so far. What do we have here in the UK in the higher levels of sport? One gay rugby player who plays for the Welsh national team (surely not the only gay in the country?). One gay cricket player who has played for England in major events (and will no doubt do so again, as he is one of the best county cricket players). Football? None at all here now. The best is one Swedish guy playing in the equivalent of something like our second division who has come out. Where are all the rest of us?
There's a helluva lot of cowards out there. Any celeb can come out as gay these days because it is no big deal. But what is needed are more top sports stars to do so. I think Max Clifford is reported as saying he knows of more than a half dozen premier league football players who are gay, and advised them not to come out. I can understand why he says that, but it is wrong and only perpetuating homophobia in sport. Given how much money premier-league football players are earning, is it worth living a lie and hurting others who need a high-profile role model to come out first to give them the courage to do so as well, and help free sport from homophobia?
