“Those who say you can’t be black, gay and proud of it are ignorant.”
TRQ: Justin Fashanu, Born February 19, 1961
Professional UK footballer Justin Fashanu, the first and only openly gay professional footballer in the UK, was born in London. As infants, Fashanu and his younger brother were given up for adoption after their parents’ divorce. Adopted by a white family in a very white Norfolk, Fashanu was an anomaly from an early age.
Fashanu was the first black footballer to earn a £1 million fee, when he transferred from Norwich City to Nottingham Forest in 1981. After making the switch though, in the era of 1980’s Britain, when British society was extremely homophobic, rumours spread about Fashanu’s sexuality.
Only recently had homosexuality been even partially decriminalised in England and Wales. Unsurprisingly, bias against gay men and gay sex was rampant, especially in sports.
On October 22, 1990, Fashanu announced through a Sun exclusive, that he was gay. He also disclosed that even though the Sun had paid him for exclusivity, he was offered even more money by friends and family not to come out. Fashanu’s brother, John, offered to buy his silence for £75,000.
As an openly gay footballer, Fashanu faced unending turbulence. A week after Fashanu’s coming out, John gave an interview to The Voice. “John Fashanu: My Gay Brother Is An Outcast” read the headline. John destroyed his relationship with his brother as he continued to make homophobic comments to the press.
Homophobia and intolerance descended from the very top of British government. In the 2017 documentary Forbidden Games Margaret Thatcher reveals her brutal bigotry when she declares, “Children who need to be taught to respect traditional moral values are being taught that they have an inalienable right to be gay… all of those children are being cheated of a sound start in life.” A clip shows Tory MP Elaine Kellett-Bowman describing homosexuality as “unhygienic” and “a perversion.”
In 1991, Fashanu confessed to Gay Times that he had not anticipate the backlash that had damaged his career. No club had offered him a contract. Consequently, Fashanu relocated to Ellicott City, Maryland to become a coach.
His stay in Maryland ended on April 3, following sexual assault accusations from a seventeen-year-old. By the time Maryland police had arrived at Fashanu’s residence to arrest him on charges of assault and sexual assault, he had fled back to England. Homosexuality in Maryland was illegal at the time.
One month later, on May 3, Fashanu visited Chariots Roman Spa, a gay sauna, and then broke into a deserted garage in Shoreditch to hang himself. His suicide note read, “I want to say that I did never and have never sexually assaulted that young man. Yes, we did have a relationship of mutual consent, but the next day he demanded money off me. When I said ‘no’, he said ‘you wait and see’.”
Fashanu added: “The first I heard that I was a fugitive was when I turned on the television news. I realised that I had already been presumed guilty. I do not want to give any more embarrassment to my friends and family. I hope the Jesus I love welcomes me home.”
This accusation of assault is worthy of further investigation. The United States made no request for Fashanu to be found. At the time of his death, Fashanu was not regarded as a wanted man. Whether this reflects a lack of interest in crimes against homosexuals, or the lack of evidence substantiating the accusation, is unclear.
On the day that would have been his 59th birthday, Fashanu will be inducted into the English Football Hall of Fame. Fashanu’s niece, Amal, who runs The Justin Fashanu Foundation, will receive the award. Fashanu’s foundation fights homophobia and discrimination in football, and promotes LGBT participation in the sport.
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