EFL referee James Adcock has publicly come out as gay and has shared the joy he has received amidst the acceptance of people. He is one of the few people who are openly gay in football and has encouraged other referees to be open about their sexuality. The referee relayed the words during the “National Coming Out Day”.
As I was going from part-time to full-time in football, some knew and some didn't," Now all my colleagues know, and it's just the norm. And, to be honest, there's been interest from colleagues saying, 'I'm proud of you James, that you're able to be openly gay in sport,' because they know the barriers that are still in place. They're fully supportive and don't change the way they are around me or the way they speak to me because they thought I was a heterosexual guy, and now they find out I'm a gay guy. I don't need to wear a T-shirt saying: 'I'm James Adcock and I'm a gay guy.' People know and just accept it. I've not had any homophobic abuse thrown at me, and I can't tell you a story where I've had to combat or overcome that.
James Adcock