UK rugby star Gareth Thomas says his
public coming out gay a year and a half ago has given him pride.
The 37-year-old Welshman came out gay
during an interview with the Daily Mail.
“I don't know if my life is going to
be easier because I'm out, but if it helps someone else, if it makes
one young lad pick up the phone to ChildLine [a GLBT teen suicide
line], then it will have been worth it.”
“I want to send a positive message to
other gay people that they can do it, too,” he added.
On Sunday, he
told the Mirror that he had made the right
decision.
“It's been the best few years of my
life since I came out,” he said with a smile. “Coming out gave
me a sense of relief and pride to be able to walk down the street.
The curb used to be my best friend when I wasn't out. I would be
ashamed and walk with my head down. I didn't want people to see me
or to be recognized.”
“Now I'm walking with pride. If
people recognize me now they maybe recognize me as a rugby player or
an inspiring proud gay man. I'm proud to be recognized for who I
am.”
He added that his biggest fear of
losing his ex-wife and best friend Jemma didn't materialize: “Jemma
texted me on Wednesday and said 'happy anniversary.' It was mad
receiving that text and realizing we would have been married for that
long. So much has happened in our lives.” The couple married in
2001.
“We still have a good connection and
I'm so happy that I've been through all this and still have her in my
life.”
(Related: Gareth
Thomas says he 'prayed to be straight.')