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#LGBTInnovators - Footballer Justin Fashanu

29th February 2016

#LGBTInnovators - Footballer Justin Fashanu

Justin Fashanu was a trail-blazer. 

He was Britain’s first million pound black footballer, and the first (and only) professional player in Britain to come out as gay whilst still playing the game. In 1980, aged 19, he was signed to Nottingham Forest football club for £1 million.

He was known by his early clubs to be gay, but came out to the press later in his career. Justin faced both homophobia and racism on the pitch from rival teams fans, and reportedly wasn’t supported by his own clubs, colleagues and family when coming out as gay — causing him difficulties in playing the game, and off the pitch. Justin was the first footballer to come out as gay in a toxic era.

After moving to the USA for a number of years, Justin was found dead in London. He had hung himself in a disused garage lock in Shoreditch, East London, about a mile away from where he had been born in Hackney, 37 years prior. His last words, in a suicide note, were “I hope the Jesus I love welcomes me home.” And so ended the life of the first openly gay professional soccer player.

Human rights campaigner Peter Tatchnell has written about Fashanu, commenting that “homophobia ultimately destroyed the career and life of football star Justin Fashanu.”

In a BBC documentary featuring Justin, his niece Amal Fashanu, commented:

“Justin was the first Million Pound black footballer, and before anything else he should be remembered for being one of the most skillful football players of his time.”

Justin was listed at number 99 in the Top 500 Lesbian and Gay Heroes in The Pink Paper.

In March 2009 a football team, The Justin Fashanu All-stars, was christened at a special event in Brighton, supported by the FA. The team, named in his honour, was created by the Justin Campaign, which is a campaign against homophobia in football and promotes the inclusion of openly gay players in football.

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

Written on 29th February 2016.