#LGBTInnovators - Footballer Casey Stoney
19th February 2016
Casey Stoney is an English footballer who plays for FA WSL club Arsenal Ladies.
A versatile defender, she has been capped more than 100 times for the England women’s national football team since making her debut in 2000. After being a non playing squad member at UEFA Women’s Euro 2005, she was an integral part of the England teams which reached the UEFA Women’s Euro 2009 final and the quarter finals of the FIFA Women’s World Cup in2007 and 2011. In 2012 Stoney succeeded Faye White as the England captain and also became captain of the newly formed Team GB squad for the 2012 London Olympics.
Stoney was previously named 50th on The Independent newspaper’s Pink List of influential lesbian and gay people in the UK. In May 2015 the University of Essex announced that it would be awarding Stoney an honorary degree.
Stoney came out publicly in February 2014. Speaking to the Telegraph about coming out she said:
“I didn’t come out for me. It was about trying to reach out to other people. I was England captain — and I had a platform where I might be able to help people. How I perform on the pitch is up to me. So whether it would affect my career was up to me. When I came out I had the best season of my career. I felt like a weight was lifted and I could be myself.”
Stoneys partner Megan Harris gave birth to their twins Teddy and Tilly in November 2014.
Leap Sports is spotlighting #LGBTInnovators in sport throughout LGBT History Month this February. We will celebrate a different LGBTI innovator in sport each day. LGBTI sports innovators include athletes, competitors, coaches, managers, community members, founders or co-ordinators of sports groups, someone passionate about their sport.
Got an LGBTI innovator in sport that you would like to shine a light on?
Use your imagination and join the conversation using the hashtag #LGBTInnovators on Twitter @Leapsports and Facebook facebook.com/leapsports
Find out more about LGBT History Month at www.lgbthistory.org.uk
