CORK INTER-COUNTY hurler Donal Óg Cusack has been signed up to promote a new campaign tackling the issue of homophobia in sport.
Speaking as part of the Show Racism the Red Card campaign, which is running in both Britain and Ireland, Cusack said coming out as a gay person was a completely different experience for everybody, but that people should be “proud” of who they are.
He said when gay people felt the time was right to take the step, it would prove liberating and that they would be much happier. “I wouldn’t be coming out calling for people in other sports to come out as being gay,” he said. “Everybody has their own road to travel.”
In 2009, the three-time All-Ireland-winning goalkeeper became the first high-profile Irish sportsman to reveal he was gay.
Show Racism the Red Card, which is running the campaign in schools for a youth audience, previously highlighted issues of racism and Islamophobia in sport.
Footballers John Barnes, Rio Ferdinand, Gary Lineker and Cesc Fabregas are among “role models” the charity has previously chosen for campaigns.
Paul Kearns of Show Racism the Red Card said being gay was one of the last taboo subjects in the sporting world. “For me, homophobia is rife in sport,” he said.
