England wicketkeeper Steve Davies has become the country’s first professional cricketer to publicly announce he is gay, saying it was a “massive relief” to speak openly about his sexuality.
Davies told the Daily Telegraph he had told his international colleagues about his sexuality after being called up for the Ashes Tour to Australia starting last year.
Meeting up with the squad in November for the first time since the announcement was nerve-racking, Davies said.
“Everyone was great — they just said it wasn’t an issue,” Davies said. “Matt [Prior] came and gave me a hug. He couldn’t believe I had kept it to myself for this long. He said I should have told him. That was special.”
“I’m comfortable with who I am and happy to say who I am in public,” said Davies, who did not make England’s World Cup squad.
“This is the right time for me ... I feel it is right to be out in the open about my sexuality. If more people do it, the more acceptable it will become. That must be a good thing,” he said.
“To speak out is a massive relief for me, but if I can just help one person to deal with their sexuality then that’s all I care about,” Davies said.
“His private life is his own concern and has absolutely no bearing on his ability to excel at the very highest level in international sport,” England coach Andy Flower said on the England and Wales Cricket Board Web site. “I have no doubt that he will continue to work hard to regain a place in the England squad.”
Davies said he told his family and close friends he was gay at the age of 19. He was inspired to go public after Wales rugby center Gareth Thomas made the same announcement in December 2009.
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