In this exclusive feature, I Kissed A Boy star and footballer Jordan Burrow opens up about life beyond the game. From growing up gay in a small, tight-knit town to navigating the hyper-masculine world of football, Jordan shares his journey of self-acceptance, resilience, and pride. With honesty and heart, he reflects on his role as a visible model for young LGBTQ+ athletes and the importance of representation in sports and media. This is Jordan's story - raw, honest, and unapologetically authentic. 

You've spoken about your love for sports.  What was your experience like navigating the world of athletics as a gay man?  Did you feel pressure to hide parts of yourself?  

Yeah, I think every gay person relates to PE. Everyone knows that feeling, like in the changing room, it's like, I hate it, but I don't hate this. I don't want to be here, or if I'm getting changed, that's positive [laughs]. I feel like every gay man, in particular, relates to that. I feel like that feeling of, 'Oh, I don't feel comfortable in this situation.' It was something I resonated with a lot. I didn't want to be there. However, my family was skilled in sports, and my brother was particularly adept in this area. I played football my whole life, so I thought I should be good at this, but I'm not, and something's wrong, something doesn't feel right.  So, then, it took me a long time, primarily through school, to realise, "What's  wrong?"  And I always felt like something was amiss.

Then I came out as gay, and then I was like, "Okay, maybe I could get into sports and stuff."  And it wasn't until I moved to Manchester 'cause back home, there aren't any  LGBTQ+ communities unless you're in a straight space, which I didn't want to go about those PE days in the locker room with the straights. So, when I went to Manchester, I joined the Village Football Club. And I was like,  "Yeah, this is good. I'm enjoying this. I can enjoy myself and meet new people, and I feel more accepted in it".

It's a weird one, I feel like those emotions from when you were younger and maybe not fitting in with those of being gay within a sport, stay with you, when you then come out, and then you still have those feelings as you go through it.

Coming from a small town, what were the challenges or maybe even surprises of coming out gay in that kind of close-knit community?  

The challenges are obviously where I'm from; it was very much like a farming community, and every family is a farming family.  As you can imagine, there's a very masculine energy from everyone, including all my dad's friends and those in the local pub. 

To be different in that is quite a challenge, and I think I knew from maybe the age of fifteen that I was gay. Then it was that thing of like, how am I gonna approach this, like how am I going to come out into this world, and I feel like I tried to hide myself so much to fit in. From the way I can, maybe I walked or just in those spaces that I'll always try to be into farming. In a sense, it's similar to sports as well; we should speak about what will be in football to fit into that world. I came out and I was pleasantly surprised about the reception, like I suddenly realised that people loved me for me, not for being straight. My family was supportive to the point where people would be fighting battles for me when I wasn't in the room; they would be fighting wars on my behalf. My Grandma once said to me, "Nothing's changed, and that's the way it should be". 

Back then, being gay was kind of like the flamboyant feminine energy, which was looked at as wrong.  I think people then pursued that when you're gay, you start wearing makeup like a drag queen because that's all you saw on TV back then,  or if it was gay, and those gay people that would have a dramatic storyline. 

That's why it was so crucial for me to go on 'I Kissed A Boy' to show people it will be ok and there are other people in this world like you.

Do you think LGBTQ+ visibility in sports has improved since you were younger?  What changes still need to happen? 

It's improved, but not enough. I feel like we're in other parts of the gay community. We're like,  going through leaps and bounds, for example,  even like visibility on TV.  There's so much visibility of a gay representation, trans representation on TV.  There's still not that visibility in sports, like there's still only one open gay footballer in the UK,  he came out around five years ago,   and there's still only one?.  The  Australian footballer,  Josh Cavallero,  is now moving to the  UK,  so he's going to be part of it,  so technically there will be two. 

Statistics of how many gay people are as a percentage of the general population, there should be like twenty or thirty people in the  LGBTQ  community who play sports and are in the spotlight of football. Still, there's only one that's come out.  So then there's still obviously a long way to go,  because there are still reasons why they're not coming out, and I think it's just such a straight-oriented sport.

Footballers play in stadiums of 80,000 people. While you are playing football, you come out as gay, if those 80,000 people then started shouting homophobic slurs at you, that's a big thing! So, I think we have a long way to go.

Was there a moment where you found acceptance both as an athlete and as a gay man, or are those worlds still separate for you sometimes?  

Yes, I still think they're separate! It depends on the sport, I suppose.  'Cause  I  guess like in some like the PT gym world,  I would say yes, I do feel quite accepted. I feel like I've got rid of any of my insecurities, like when you're next to you, some six-foot, massive bodybuilder. I don't feel intimidated anymore as a gay man. I used to feel very intimidated about the situation when I was just like you and me; I did my thing. My sexuality isn't coming into that.

For young  LGBTQ+  people in rural or conservative areas who might feel isolated,  what advice would you give them? I would say it does get better.  You'll be pleasantly surprised by the reception that you'll get.  People will love you for you, and if they don't,  then that's on them. Just go for it, life will change for the better, you'll find your people!

Do you see yourself as a role model for queer athletics for small-town LGBTQ+ youth?  Is that something you embrace or feel responsible for?  

I feel like I am a bit of a role model. I don't have pressure for all that. I went on a TV show trying to show other queer people what it's like to grow up in a small town as a gay man and play sports, and I feel like I've accomplished that!

Lastly, you mentioned you shared your story on TV. Have you heard from others, especially from small towns or sports communities, who are related to your journey?

Yes! I've had messages from parents understanding more about being a gay man in the football world. At first, I thought it would be people messaging me who are not out and are scared of reconnecting with my story, but it was more Dads who messaged me about their sons, and they understand what they're going through. So, I do not regret going on to 'I Kissed A Boy' to share my story because I believe it has helped many people out there.