The Importance of Being a Gay Footballer

Rylan is joined by Jake Daniels, the first openly gay professional footballer in the UK in over 30 years.

Jake reflects on the events and challenges that led him to come out in May 2022, at the age of 17 and they discuss why, with many female professional players in same-sex relationships, the stigmas and taboos surrounding homosexuality in the men’s game remain, along with homophobia off and on the pitch. Jake also talks about dating on social media.

In this series, Rylan Clark opens up the fault lines of masculinity in lively and revealing conversations with diverse, prominent figures and celebrities. Together they explore toxic masculinity, old-fashioned male stereotypes, gender identity, body image, parenthood, how to educate the next generation, role models and cultural differences to try to understand How to Be a Man in the 2020s. Series Editor: Yvonne Alexander Executive Producer: Kevin Mundye A Mindhouse production in association with Simple Beast for BBC Radio 4