England wicketkeeper Davies announces he is gay

Tuesday, 1 March 2011 00:01 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

LONDON, (Reuters) - England wicketkeeper Steven Davies has announced he is gay, saying it was a “massive relief” to speak openly about his sexuality.

Davies told the Daily Telegraph he had told his international colleagues about his sexuality after being called up for the Ashes Tour to Australia starting last year.

“I’m comfortable with who I am and happy to say who I am in public,” said Davies, who did not make England’s World Cup squad.

He added: “This is the right time for me ... I feel it is right to be out in the open about my sexuality. If more people do it, the more acceptable it will become. That must be a good thing.

“To speak out is a massive relief for me, but if I can just help one person to deal with their sexuality then that’s all I care about.”

Former Wales rugby captain Gareth Thomas is one of the few leading professional sportsmen who is openly gay after coming out in 2009.

Davies said he had received full support from England skipper Andrew Strauss and Matt Prior, who was preferred to him for the World Cup squad.