The Inside Track: Celebrating LGBT+ History Month

Eleanor Oldroyd is joined by Radio 1’s Adele Roberts to celebrate LGBT+ History Month. They speak to former Swimming World Champion Mark Foster and Aston Villa’s former England international Anita Asante about their experiences, the state of sport as an inclusive and welcoming environment and what can be done to improve involvement for LGBT+ athletes. Mark came out after retiring from swimming, and admits to living a life telling lies and hiding in the sport without role models or people to connect with. Anita has played football openly gay for many years and shares her opinions on what women’s football has got right, and what the men’s game has got to do to catch up. We hear from Former Hull City youth player Thomas Beattie who became the first UK born male professional footballer to come out since Justin Fashanu more than 30 years ago. That sparks a debate about masculinity and how close British Football is to it happening again. There's so much more on the BBC Sport Website on LGBT+ History Month and remember if you've been affected by anything covered in this podcast and would like help with any of these issues, you can find that at the BBC Action Line on the BBC website. TOPICS: 01:40 – What LGBT+ History Month means to Adele Roberts 02:25 – Adele on her sporting role model – the Pele of women’s football 04:50 – Mark Foster on keeping his sexuality a secret 07:25 – Why sportspeople find it hard to come out 10:05 – There’s nothing wrong with being yourself 16:45 – The power of language on homophobia 21:45 – Anita Asante on the reaction of her coming out 27:20 – What can men’s football learn from the women’s game in terms of acceptance 34:15 – Thomas Beattie on masculinity and sexuality 44:00 – Change is coming