Saturday, December 19, 2009

Gay sports icon Ian Roberts applauds rugby star Gareth Thomas for coming out

"Former rugby league star Ian Roberts [pictured], who came out in 1995, was ecstatic with Gareth Thomas's announcement and pleased that society had made it easier for sportspeople to be open about their sexuality," reports the Sydney Morning Herald. The 44-year-old was delighted that another footballer had now admitted to being gay. "I think it's great ... at long last someone else has done it! It's almost like, that's the breaking of the ice for me. The fact that someone else has done it, it shows that it can happen and it does happen," he said. "He's opened the door, had a look and said, 'Oh, it's not that bad over that side.' He'll be starting to think, 'Oh my god, this is who I am, this is really me, out there, in the street, as I am."' Read more at the Sydney Morning Herald.