The German football player follows in the path of other brave athletes to come out open.
The former German football player became the first openly gay player to compete in the English Premier League.
“I'm coming out about my homosexuality because I want to move the discussion about homosexuality among professional sportspeople forwards,” Thomas told Germany’s Die Zeit newspaper.
Thomas retired from the game in September due to nagging injuries and said now was a “good time” to reveal his sexuality after he realized he “preferred” men.
“I've never been ashamed of the way I am,” the former West Ham United midfielder said. He represented Germany 52 times between 2004 and 2010 and spent his club career at Aston Villa, VfB Stuttgart, Lazio, West Ham United, VfL Wolfsburg and Everton, according to Daily Mail.
In 1990, British football player Justin Fashanu became the first professional football player to come out, but he never played in the Premier League. He later committed suicide at age 37, eight years after coming out.
Thomas lived with his fiancé Inga Totzauer in Sutton Coldfield, West Midlands before calling off their marriage in June 2007, one month before their scheduled wedding date.
Open homosexuality is still rare in professional sports around the world. Last year, basketball player Jason Collins of the Washington Wizards became the first actively gay athlete in any of the major North American team sports.
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