A Sky Sports reporter has opened up on their experience of being the broadcaster’s only openly gay male journalist.
Mark McAdam came out as gay publicly in the UK-based LGBTQ+ magazine Gay Times in 2014.
However, a decade later, he has revealed that people in the industry are still unaware of his sexual orientation.
Speaking on the All Out with Jon Dean podcast, McAdam admitted that he feels he has to repeatedly come out, but this has not stopped him having awkward exchanges with players on the subject.
‘The weird thing about coming out is you never come out once,’ McAdam explained.
Mark McAdam (pictured) is Sky Sports’ only openly gay male journalist
McAdam (right) came out as gay a decade ago but revealed he feels he has had to repeatedly come out over the years
McAdam admitted he has had awkward exchanges with players and managers who are not aware of his sexual orientation
‘You’re always coming out for the rest of your life, especially in my industry, because I meet people and I meet players and I meet managers, and even now they don’t know you’re gay because they didn’t read Gay Times or they didn’t look at social media or they had never had that conversation.
‘But they’ll say “Oh, did you have a good summer? What did you get up to? You away with the kids, wife?”
‘And you always have that moment. You’re like “Oh, here we go again. What do I say here?” Do I come out or do I just say “Oh, no, no, I’m single”, or whatever?’
Back in 2017 – three years after coming out as gay – McAdam did an interview with Attitude.co.uk where he called for football to continue taking steps forward when it comes to making the LGBTQ+ community feel welcome in the sport.
‘I think sport’s acceptance, understanding and willingness to be LGBT-friendly has changed, particularly over the last couple of years,’ he said.
‘I think the football dressing room would be open to a gay footballer because that’s the way they operate, teammates are teammates, whatever their colour, sexuality, race or religion when you put on the shirt you’re in it together.
‘Footballers look after footballers. I think the industry as a whole needs to take huge steps forward, both in the media and on the terraces, but it is definitely headed in the right direction.’
McAdam presented Rylan Clark (right) with his broadcaster of the year award at the British LGBT Awards in 2022, before posing alongside Clark and Sue Perkins (left)
McAdam is also close friends with gay fashion consultant Gok Wan (left)
McAdam has not hidden his sexual orientation over the years, and teamed up with gay comedian Tom Allen to commentate on a match between Charlton and AFC Wimbledon in 2020 for an episode of Sky Sports’ ‘I’m Game’ series.
The event was organised as part of Charlton showing their support for Stonewall’s Rainbow Laces campaign, which was set up to raise awareness around LGBTQ+ inclusion in sport.
McAdam then presented TV personality Rylan Clark with his broadcaster of the year award at the British LGBT Awards in 2022, and the pair posed for a picture together afterwards alongside gay comedian Sue Perkins.
He has also attended The Attitude Awards, which celebrate LGBTQ+ stars and allies, on multiple occasions, and is close friends with gay fashion consultant Gok Wan.