Out soccer player Anton Hysen talks about coming out as gay athlete in Sweden

Sweden's Anton Hysen, openly gay soccer player

Excellent, wide-ranging interview with openly gay Swedish soccer player and Dancing with the Stars champion Anton Hysén on being an out footballer in Sweden:

"I’ve had quite a few anonymous phone calls from players who want to come out but I don’t know who they are or where they play. I hope that someone else will come out just like Robbie Rogers did. That was great for U.S. soccer. At last we’re having a discussion about it and that’s huge. It has been pretty quiet and I understand that. People might not want to come out publicly and I understand. For me, the whole experience has been really positive. I’ve not had any trouble at all. If somebody says something, then I don’t care. I don’t have time for any of that. I don’t waste my energy on that…”

When I first came out I thought I would be in the newspapers in Sweden for a couple of days and that’s it — I didn’t think people would really care to be honest. And then suddenly it went crazy, and within two days the whole world knew, but it feels pretty good. I know that I’ve done something good with my life. I was just a kid who happened to be gay — I never thought it would be such a big deal.”

 

Anton winning Sweden's "Dancing With The Stars"

(via Queerty)