Former A-League player Brennan becomes first openly gay Australian male footballer

Former Newcastle Jets player Andy Brennan has become the first Australian male professional footballer to come out as gay.

Brennan

Source: Getty Images

The 26-year-old Green Gully attacker posted on Instagram on Tuesday about coming out.

"It’s taken me years to get comfortable saying this - I’m gay," he said.

"I was scared it would affect my friendships, my teammates, and my family. But the support of the people around me has been so great and helped me get to the final step; being completely open.
"Being open is the best way for me to feel most comfortable and be myself"

Brennan, who played five matches for A-League club Newcastle Jets in 2016, told the Herald Sun homosexuality is still stigmatised in football.

“Statistically speaking, people playing sport, whether it would be football or AFL or any sport, you’d think there were more who would be gay," he said.

“There is a bit of stigma within the sport and if people are going through what I went through, (they may think) it’s not okay because of not being accepted.”

“This isn’t a call for those people to come out and tell everyone who they are. They shouldn’t have to, shouldn’t need to."

“If there’s people out who’ve had that burden, especially playing sport, and feel like they can’t be who they are in a professional or amateur environment, it’s vital they see others accepted."

Professional Footballers Australia (PFA) chief executive John Didulica said: "It is really encouraging that football has provided Andy a safe and inclusive environment to share his story and to feel comfortable to come out publicly."

We’re not doing our job well enough if participants have a perception that their sexuality prevents them excelling or from building the trusting friendships that are the cornerstone of sport.”


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2 min read
Published 14 May 2019 7:11pm
By SBS The World Game
Source: SBS

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