Andy Brennan becomes first Australian male footballer to come out as gay

Former A-League player Andy Brennan has become the first Australian male footballer to come out publicly as gay.

Brennan played for Newcastle Jets in the top flight between 2015 and 2017 and now lines up for Victorian National Premier Leagues side Green Gully.

While the 26-year-old says his decision to go public has been a big weight off his shoulders, he does not want to pressure others to do the same if they are not ready.

“You’ve got to realise that’s who you are and you’ve just got to be who you are – whether you’re gay or whatever, whoever you are,” he told the Herald Sun.

“There will be people out there thinking, ‘Why has he got to voice his own personal whatever to the world?’. The reason I wanted to do this in the first place was to make me feel comfortable. It’s been a big lift off my shoulders and I can just focus on playing football.

“This isn’t a call for those people to come out and tell everyone who they are. They shouldn’t have to, shouldn’t need to.

“I did it this way because this is what is going to make me most comfortable – being open and honest with who I am.”

 

 

 

 

View this post on Instagram

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It’s taken me years to get comfortable saying this – I’m gay. I was scared it would affect my friendships, my teammates, and my family. But the support of the people around me has been so great and helped me get to the final step; being completely open. Being open is the best way for me to feel most comfortable and be myself. So… carry on!  #owlyagoing

A post shared by andybrennan36 (@andybrennan36) on May 13, 2019 at 11:50pm PDT