After coming out, pro soccer player Jakub Jankto tells gay athletes there’s “no reason to be scared”
In a new interview with BBC, Jankto, who publicly came out as gay in February, reflects on the last eight months. He says he realized staying closeted was holding him back– on and off the pitch.“I also thought to myself: ‘Well look, Jakub, you are a professional footballer, but you have your life that you have to live like you want.’ And for me, that was fundamental,” he said.Jankto referenced his quest for freedom in his coming out video. “Like everyone else, I want to live my life with freedom, without fear, without violence, without prejudice, but with love,” he said. “I am homosexual and I no longer want to hide myself,” he added.A post shared by Kuba (@jakubjanktojr)As one of the few out gay pro soccer players–along with Josh Cavallo, Zander Murray and 18-year-old Jake Daniels–Jankto’s announcement made international headlines.He says the overwhelming response was uplifting, but also a little scary.
Jankto knows there’s a dearth of out gay male pro soccer players, and that young LGBTQ+ kids are now counting on him to lead.“When you receive thousands, maybe millions, of messages from people saying they appreciate me and thank me, it makes me really happy, and the people were amazing,” he said. “But it does put pressure on me.
It’s not easy to be the first guy at my level who says: ‘Yeah, I’m gay.'”A post shared by Kuba (@jakubjanktojr)A post shared by Kuba (@jakubjanktojr)While it certainly isn’t easy, Jankto received a ton of positive reinforcement when he returned to the field.
When he appeared in his first match since coming out, fans showered him with a standing ovation.And the best part is, the warm reception came in his home country.
