Due to the recent coming out story of a German soccer Thomas Hitzlsperger, an openly out British footballer Liam Davis talks about coming out as a professional athlete. Davis believes that Hitzlsperger's recent news is a step forward to equality in the locker rooms. According to Davis, such big coming out in soccer can motivate other top athletes to come out without the fear of rejection and prejudice from fans, teammates and the soccer community.
Although Davis is very pleased with Hitzlsperger's announcement he wishes that Thomas came out before retiring from the sport.
“It would have been great if [Hitzlsperger] had come out while he was still playing, then someone would have set the precedent,” he said. "Until someone does, then everybody has to be in the closet. If he had done it, then a lot more would have followed" Davis said.
"I personally hope that over the next 10 years I’m not the only gay footballer [still playing]," he told the Lincolnshire Echo. "Nobody wants to be forced out, but I hope they can look and see there is someone out there who has done it"
“I didn’t know if people knew. I had intended to just get on with playing football. There had been questions like, ‘have you got a girlfriend’, and I’d just say ‘no’, because it was the truth, so I had a suspicion that they might have an idea. Then it turned out they all knew from the first day I was at training. Personally, I’m happy being out and proud of it. I don’t see why I should hide who I am." He said.