Head of Germany's FA urges football players to come out

The head of the German Football Association has urged closeted players to be open about their sexuality.

Yesterday's comments, made by Theo Zwanziger, are the latest sign that the culture of international sport is evolving.

"Players should have the courage to declare themselves,? Zwanziger said during a meeting in Cologne.

He added that there has never been a better time for players to come out, he added, insisting that fans of the game ?orient themselves toward performance", rather than sexuality.

The comments follow footballer Philipp Lahm's remarks that Germany is still not ready for openly-gay? sporting figures.

?Football is like earlier gladiatorial combat. Sure, politicians can now come out as homosexuals. But they don?t have to play in front of 60,000 spectators week after week,? Lahm said, according to the Westdeutsche Allgemeine Zeitung.

?I don?t think society is yet far enough to accept gay footballers for granted, as it is now possible in other areas.?

But this opinion seems to be receding.

Last year, international German goalkeeper Maunel Neuer stated that homosexual footballers should not be afraid to reveal their sexuality.

The 24-year old goalie, who has appeared for both Schalke and Germany, said that if players were to come out it would relieve a lot of stress.

Neuer told celebrity magazine Bunte: ?Those who are homosexual should say so. That would take a load off their minds. And the fans would get over it quickly.

"What is important to them is the performances on the pitch of the player, not his sexual preferences.?

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/PinkPaperNews/~3/0rrqrWDpxNs/Head-of-Germanys-FA-urges-football-players-to-come-out.aspx

pope joan hangover cure lebron james engaged auld lang syne leap year end of the world 2012 pink martini