The amazing and very inspirational Sam Stanley has thanked rugby hunk Ben Cohen for helping him decide to come out.
In an emotional post on Instagram, in which he also paid tribute to his family and boyfriend Laurence, the first English rugby union player to come out said: ‘I feel a lot of thanks must go to @bencohenstandup who was a huge influence for me and the chance to even meet him was amazing. Gave me a lot of good advice which really helped in my decision to just be myself and come out.’
Sam, who recently peeled off for GT magazine’s charity NAKED issue, says that the past year has been ‘massive’ for him, admitting: ‘Never would have thought I’d be where I am now, being so comfortable in myself. I took probably the biggest step in my life back in February, telling team mates, past and present and close friends about being gay. It’s something I’d kept secret for far too long and mentally, was affecting me and taking its toll. The messages of support have been incredibly overwhelming. Some I’ve received have really shown me that doing what I did so publicly not only helped me but also others young and old and has made this whole experience worthwhile.’
However, although he says totally happy in his life, he isa only too aware that being gay isn’t easy for anyone. ‘It seems it’ll always be a struggle for LGBTI people to express themselves fully without being judged, it’s just how society is,’ Sam wrote. ‘The people within rugby have definitely changed my opinion, however, making me realise I can do what I love whilst being true to myself.’
Awww, what a nice fella, eh? Keep up to date with him here:
