Former German national team footballer Thomas Hitzlsperger has urged for greater openness when it comes to homosexuality in professional soccer and stressed the importance of players coming out. “In principle, I think it would be fantastic if a player would come out, perhaps even several at once,” the 43-year-old said in an interview for the new book “Mutmacher-Menschen” (Amazon Affiliate Link). A planned group coming-out by gay professional footballers for May 2024 did not materialize, TheColu.mn reported.
Hitzlsperger, who publicly came out as gay in 2014 after ending his playing career, also cautioned against fixating too much on current players. “Sure, it would be a tremendous step. But the issues won’t be solved by that alone. We can improve society without always searching for these players. That’s a bit of sensationalism that doesn’t help the cause,” he said. Through his own actions, he aims to “foster understanding” and “champion minorities and diversity.”
In conversations, he often hears that the topic is being overemphasized. “Sometimes heterosexual people tell me, ‘Okay, you’re gay, that’s not a problem, but do you have to keep talking about it?’ Then I try to explain that many people wrestle with their sexuality and struggle because they fear they won’t be fully accepted by society. They hide, and that takes a toll,” the former Bundesliga player noted.
A public coming-out could help build greater acceptance. “If I come out publicly, it creates visibility. Everyone who comes out publicly helps make it normal, because more people become visible,” Hitzlsperger emphasized.
He also underscored: “That makes it clear: it exists—and there’s nothing wrong with it. A minority must always seek attention to some extent. If you’re not publicly visible, you’re more easily marginalized. That’s why public coming-outs are so meaningful and so important.”
