Rugby Union star Sam Stanley ‘overwhelmed’ by support since coming out
Rugby union star Sam Stanley has spoke of the ‘overwhelming’ support he has received since coming out.
Speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live, the rugby sevens player revealed that he initially came out to his teammates a few months back by sending a message over the social networking app WhatsApp.
He said: ‘I’ve wanted to do it for a while… I felt too stressed to do it one-by-one so I just took that step and broadcast that message on WhatsApp to people I wanted to know.
‘The boys took it very well. I couldn’t have asked for a better reaction, really.
‘I expected a huge negative, as any gay man will tell you. It was completely different to that. I guess I’m grateful for how the boys reacted and took it.’
Stanley has also spoke about how he felt it might be difficult to be a young gay player, despite following in the footsteps of former Welsh captain Gareth Thomas who came out in 2009.
He said: ‘As much as that inspired me I knew what he’d achieved in the game. I didn’t feel that I could be a youngster and come up through the ranks and achieve what I wanted to achieve if I’d come out at an early stage in my career… but it’s a completely different story.’
Stanley has also spoke about contemplating suicide in the past, and that he hopes he can inspire other LGBTI people.
He said: ‘I remember standing over a bridge and just contemplating whether or not to jump, but now looking back you don’t see anything else to this. You get so down about it you think if you came out you’d be outcasted anyway and hated for it, so why not let that whole feeing of loneliness and anger and hurt just disappear just like that, in the blink of an eye.
‘Looking back, it’s a ridiculous decision but I know at the same time there are people who do take that leap, and if that’s something I can stop and help people avoid, that’s a great feeling for me.’
Stanley has received a lot of support since coming out.
Coronation Street actor Antony Cotton said on Twitter: ‘Well done to @Stanley_13. Now it’s done, you can relax and continue as normal. No more to be said x’
Rugby League player Keegan Hirst, who came out in early August, tweeted: ‘Well done to @Stanley_13 hope all’s well! I’m sure you’ll have all the support you need from your team mates and everybody else.’
Irish television star Graham Norton added: ‘Congratulations! One day none of this will matter but until then I commend your courage and honesty. Live proud!’
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Ashlee Kelly
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