A former footballer who last week became only the second British male professional to come out as gay said he couldn’t have done it during his career.
Ex-Kilmarnock player Thomas Beattie followed fellow Englishman Justin Fashanu who revealed he was gay in 1990.
Beattie, 33, of Goole, Yorkshire, enjoyed a 10-year career in the US, Canada and Singapore as well as Rugby Park.
He told Lorraine Kelly on her TV show yesterday: “Football’s a very volatile sport. Not knowing the reception you’re going to get from different environments and countries and societies can be difficult.
“I think it’s important to have more visibility and awareness of different sexual orientations”
Beattie was apprehensive about coming out but said: “I’ve had a great reaction. It’s been mainly positive. Every now and again you get the odd comment, but I think on the whole I’ve been really overwhelmed by some of the messages … so I’m really delighted.
“I don’t assume myself or any other individual is going to change anything overnight. But definitely given confidence by the progress that's been made over the last week.”
● Watch Good Morning Britain with Lorraine Kelly weekdays from 9am on STV.
