Watch a replay of our Zoom event for Pride Month and listen via the Football v Homophobia Podcast; Sports Media LGBT+ and the Football Writers’ Association continue partnership with panel discussion, supported by FvH; Sky Sports News’ Tim Thornton, Stonewall’s Erin Williams, Brentford FC’s ED&I lead Jay Lemonius and The Athletic’s Nancy Frostick talk through the takeaways for journalists, fans and others from one of the year’s biggest football stories…
What does Jake Daniels’ story tell us about being LGBTQ+ in football today?
Watch a replay or listen to a podcast recording of our Pride Month 2022 event, brought to you in conjunction with our partners at the Football Writers’ Association, and Football v Homophobia.
Just click play on the Facebook Watch embed below…
On the move? Listen to an audio recording of the event via this FvH Podcast episode, available wherever you get your podcasts…
Jake Daniels’ name wouldn’t have registered with many people before the 17-year-old shared his truth on May 16 in a Sky Sports News interview and on the Blackpool FC website.
In coming out publicly as gay, he provides representation within the active ranks of British men’s professional football for the first time in decades.
His story contained a powerful message of authenticity and courage, and rapidly went global, trending on social media, making newspaper front pages, and being discussed on TV, radio and podcasts.
What are the learnings from this coverage for those working in football media, and for the wider game? Our interactive panel discussion explores this.
Following on from a collaboration held a year ago, Sports Media LGBT+, the Football Writers’ Association and Football v Homophobia once again marked Pride Month by holding this event online.
On the panel…
- Tim Thornton, Sky Sports News Senior Reporter, who worked extensively with Jake, his family and agent, and Blackpool FC to help Jake get his message across
- Erin Williams, Sport Engagement and Progammes Manager at Stonewall, who led the charity’s behind-the-scenes support for the player and his club
- Jay Lemonius, Head of ED&I at Brentford FC and captain of Stonewall FC, who has broad experience of working with various media outlets on LGBTQ+ in football content
- Nancy Frostick, EFL writer with The Athletic, who authored a column on issues relating to Daniels’ story and whose portfolio includes articles on being trans in football, and the importance of LGBT+ role models in the women’s game
They joined Jon Holmes (Sports Media LGBT+ founder and lead) and Carrie Brown (FWA chair) for a conversation that takes you ‘Behind the Headline’.
Thanks to Andrew Henderson of Pride of the Terraces for running our social media updates – a thread of tweets from the event…
Read Jon’s blog – ‘Jake Daniels is finding space and providing assists by coming out publicly’
Read an in-depth feature by Will Stroude for PinkNews (January 2023) – ‘What Jake Daniels’ historic coming out interview with Sky Sports News can teach other media’
Sports Media LGBT+ is a network, advocacy, and consultancy group that is helping to build a community of LGBTQ+ people and allies in sport. We’re also a digital publisher. Learn more about us here.
Contact us to discuss how we can help you.