Thierry Henry backs Rainbow Laces campaign as Sky Sports joins TeamPride
Monday 21 August 2017 16:38, UK
Arsenal legend and Sky Sports pundit Thierry Henry says people should be accepting of LGBT inclusion in sport and footballers should feel able to be open about their sexuality.
His comments come as Sky Sports was announced as among the newest members of TeamPride, a coalition of brands and businesses backing lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender equality charity Stonewall's Rainbow Laces campaign, in support of LGBT inclusion in sport.
The aim is to raise awareness of the problem of homophobia, biphobia and transphobia in sport and build support among fans, clubs, players, leagues, governing bodies and sponsors for LGBT equality in all sports, at all levels.
Sky Academy ambassador Henry says it should be "OK by now" for gay and bi male footballers to feel they can be open up about their sexuality.
Henry said: "I stand by what I've said before. We're living in a different time, a different world, and people should accept that."
Professional athletes have long been hesitant about coming out as gay, partly because of concerns about how fans and sponsors might react.
The Frenchman said he would have no problems playing alongside a team-mate who was gay, adding: "It's not a problem. We're ultimately there to do a job - whatever you believe in, whatever you do.
"If I was in a dressing room, that guy would still have been my team-mate and I would still give him the ball, and I would still see him the same way."
This week, as part of Stonewall's campaign, sports clubs across Britain are hosting a Rainbow Laces takeover to encourage fans, players and organisations to show their support for LGBT people, with some Premier League clubs wearing Rainbow Laces during training and handing laces out at matches.
Henry concluded: "We're all human beings at the end of the day, so it doesn't really bother me."
