Former NBA star John Amaechi is the only sporting personality on 'The Pink List'
The Independent on Sunday has published its list of the most influential gay people in Britain, which includes Kick It Out ambassador and former NBA basketball star John Amaechi.
First Secretary of State Lord Mandelson tops the list, which is notable for its lack of sports-related individuals, with Amaechi, at number 60, the only former or current sporting personality on the list.
Concerns have been raised over the lack of gay voices in football and throughout sport in general. This list is testament to the gay influence in practically every other sphere of British society.
Presenter and writer Stephen Fry is at number two, actor Sir Ian McKellen is number three, historian Dr David Starkey is at number four and pop singer Beth Ditto is number five.
Other senior politicians listed include Culture Secretary Ben Bradshaw at number eight and Nick Boles, the Conservative party's Head of Implementation at number 10.
This is the tenth year the Independent on Sunday has produced the Pink List.
The continuing issue of homophobia in football is certainly unlikely to disappear until the dearth of gay influence in football is addressed, and gay rights campaigner Peter Tatchell, number 34 on the Independent's list, is currently working with the FA on an anti-homophobia campaign backed by Kick It Out.
The Independent feature also includes an article by John Amaechi on his struggles with being a gay professional sportsman, an extract from which can be read below:
Over my years as a player in the National Basketball Association in the States, I spent much of my time in the locker-room shaking my head, watching straight teammates do things that made me ask, 'And I'm the gay one?'
In Europe especially, the increasing metrosexuality of male sports stars means all things gay are ever-present and often co-opted – the first time I saw shorts like those Cristiano Ronaldo and Rio Ferdinand wore on holiday recently was Gay Pride float in Manchester.
Indeed, much of the manufactured taboo about gay people in sports is due to the highly homoerotic nature of male team sports – just look at the next goal celebration.
The blame for the lack of 'out' sportspeople is usually laid on the fans on the terraces (read: working classes) and "urban sportsmen" (read black athletes). To suggest there are no bigots is a lie, but to lay the blame here alone is a mistake.
Increasingly, it's only the managers, coaches and club executives who believe that 'showering with a gay person' is likely to cause a rift in the dressing-room.
John Amaechi's article, along with the full Independent on Sunday's 'Pink List' 2009 can be viewed by clicking here
