October 3, 2023
Scotland's First Out Gay Footballer Zander Murray: 'I'm Learning How to Be Gay at 31'
Emell Adolphus READ TIME: 6 MIN.
It's been one year since Scottish footballer Zander Murray became Scotland's first out footballer, and he hasn't looked back.
As reported by The Scottish Sun, the striker now has a second job as an ambassador speaking to kids about discrimination and says he has received nothing but love and acceptance since he began his coming out journey.
"I'm learning how to be gay at 31," he explained. "I had no gay education growing up or in school. I'm still getting there with it."
Although Murray admits that his journey to acceptance has been long and difficult, "I have been to such dark, dark places," his team has been "brilliant."
"If I get any banter from them it's only about my fake tan," said Murray. "They'll take the p**s and tell me, 'you're never off the telly.'"
He added, "It sounds cheesy but it's true – I'm in such a good place."
And it sounds like he is in a good place.
Murray marked his coming out anniversary with a post saying: "Facebook post probably saved my life" – is also reaching out to gay kids to encourage them to be themselves," he wrote. "Things have changed a lot since I grew up in the east end of Glasgow.
And finally, he encourages others who are thinking about coming out to think about how their lives could change once they are able to live in their truth.
He said: "I don't want to put any other footballer under pressure to come out, but if they are struggling I can tell them, from my experience, it definitely helped."
He added, "Being able to be yourself without limits lifts so much of the pressure."
See what he shares on Instagram:
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