[Smithy]

Thomas Beattie is coming out.

The 33-year-old English soccer player, who played professionally from 2018 to 2015, opened up on social media and in an exclusive personal story for ESPN on Tuesday (June 23).

"It’s time to share something very personal to me. It’s easier to sit in silence but the real challenge is to speak up and for me it’s time live my truth and hopefully affect change in some way. I am a brother, son, friend and I’m gay. It took me a long time to accept who I am and I hope it is a little easier for the next generation. Thank you to everyone who has supported me through this process and the journey to come, I appreciate you. Thank you to @espn @espnuk for the platform to speak openly," he wrote on his Instagram.

Good for him I guess