Soccer, or football, depending on which side of the Atlantic you're on, has always been more than just a game. It's passion, culture, and community wrapped up in 90 minutes of athletic excellence. But for far too long, LGBTQ+ players had to hide who they were to play the sport they loved. Thankfully, that's changing. Welcome to soccer's gay revolution.
When Playing Meant Hiding
Let's rewind for a moment. Imagine scoring 967 goals in your career and still being written out of history. That's what happened to Lily Parr, a lesbian footballer who dominated the pitch in the 1920s. She played openly as a lesbian during an era when women's soccer was literally banned by the FA in 1921. Talk about being ahead of your time.
Fast forward to the modern men's game, and Justin Fashanu became the first professional male footballer to come out publicly during his playing career (1978-1997). His courage cost him dearly, he faced relentless abuse and tragically took his own life in 1998. His story is a painful reminder of how hostile the soccer world was to LGBTQ+ players.
The Pioneers Breaking Through
The 2010s marked a turning point. In 2013, Robbie Rogers came out as gay while playing for the LA Galaxy, becoming the first openly gay male athlete to compete in a top North American professional sports league. His decision to live authentically inspired countless others, both on and off the pitch.
Then came Josh Cavallo in 2021. The Australian left back became the world's only active out gay male top-flight professional footballer at the time. He didn't just come out quietly, he used his platform to challenge FIFA's penalties against diversity armbands and speak out about homophobia in the sport. That's the kind of bravery we love to see at Read with Pride.
The Current Landscape: Five Brave Souls
As of 2026, there are only five out gay male professional footballers active in the sport worldwide. Let that sink in. Five. Out of thousands of professional male players globally.
Jake Daniels made history in 2022 as the UK's first professional male footballer to come out publicly since Fashanu, a gap of 32 years. He's now playing for Charlotte Independence in the US after leaving Blackpool FC in 2025. Collin Martin came out in 2018 while playing for Minnesota United FC in Major League Soccer. Phuti Lekoloane, a South African goalkeeper who came out in 2015, remains Africa's first out gay male footballer. And Jakub Jankto, a Czech international who came out in October 2021, became the first active senior international player to publicly identify as gay or bisexual.
These five players carry an enormous weight, representing millions of LGBTQ+ soccer fans and aspiring players worldwide.
Women's Soccer: Leading the Way
Here's where things get interesting. Women's soccer tells a completely different story. Players like Megan Rapinoe haven't just come out, they've become global icons. Rapinoe came out in 2012 and has since used her platform to advocate for LGBTQ+ rights, equal pay, and social justice. She's proof that visibility doesn't have to end your career, it can amplify your impact.
The contrast between men's and women's soccer couldn't be starker. Women's teams around the world have multiple out players, creating environments where being LGBTQ+ is normalized rather than sensationalized. The men's game? Still catching up.
Why the Lag in Men's Soccer?
So what's the deal? Why does men's soccer lag so dramatically behind women's soccer in LGBTQ+ visibility? The answer is complicated, rooted in toxic masculinity, traditional gender expectations, and the hyper-masculine culture that dominates professional men's sports.
Homophobic chants still echo through stadiums. Players fear losing endorsement deals. Coaches worry about "distractions" in the locker room. The pressure to conform is immense, and the potential consequences of coming out can feel career-ending.
But here's the thing: every player who comes out makes it easier for the next one. Every Jake Daniels and Josh Cavallo chips away at the fear and stigma.
The Cultural Impact Beyond the Pitch
Soccer's gay revolution isn't just about who's on the field, it's about who feels welcome in the stands, who sees themselves in the sport, and who dares to dream about playing professionally without hiding who they are.
These out players are doing more than scoring goals. They're changing hearts and minds. They're proving that being gay doesn't make you less of an athlete. They're showing young LGBTQ+ kids that they can love soccer and love who they want to love.
It's similar to the stories we celebrate in MM romance books at Read with Pride, tales of courage, authenticity, and finding love despite the odds. Just like the characters in our gay romance novels, these athletes are writing their own happy endings by refusing to live in the shadows.
What Comes Next?
The revolution is underway, but it's far from over. We need more players to feel safe coming out. We need leagues to implement stronger anti-discrimination policies. We need fans to challenge homophobic behavior in stadiums. We need soccer governing bodies to prioritize inclusion over image.
Most importantly, we need to celebrate the brave players who've already stepped into the light. They're not just athletes, they're activists, role models, and heroes.
Finding Your Own Beautiful Game
Whether you're a die-hard soccer fan or just appreciate a good underdog story, soccer's gay revolution offers lessons we can all embrace: authenticity matters, visibility saves lives, and sometimes the bravest thing you can do is simply be yourself.
And hey, if you're looking for more stories about courage, passion, and finding love against all odds, check out the incredible MM romance collection at Read with Pride. From sports romances to contemporary love stories, we've got the books that celebrate authentic LGBTQ+ relationships in all their glory.
Because whether it's on the soccer pitch or in the pages of a great gay romance novel, everyone deserves their moment to shine. The beautiful game is getting more beautiful every day; and we're here for every minute of it.
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