Former international swimmer Michael Gunning debuted Beneath the surface a Sky Sports documentary that delves into the intertwined challenges of LGBTQ+ identity and racial discrimination in sport.
The first episode of the series, which premieres tonight (October 28) at 7pm on Sky Sports, focuses on Jake Daniels, Blackpool FC’s rising star and the UK’s only gay professional footballer since Justin Fashanu in 1990.
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Beneath the surface Produced and directed by Gunning, it is the first installment of Sky Sports’ new documentary series highlighting diverse voices in sport. Produced under Sky’s New Focus Fund, the series aims to address issues of racial injustice, LGBTQ+ inclusion and the pressures to break down barriers in traditionally conservative spaces.
In it, Daniels speaks openly in the documentary about his life since coming out at age 17 and the pressures he feels to prove himself on the field while carrying the weight of representation.
“People now only know me as the ‘gay footballer,’” Daniels says. “Now it’s about showing myself on the field, showing that I’m a good footballer and just going out and showing people that I’m the footballer I want to be.”
“People think being gay makes you weak” – Jake Daniels
Daniels also addresses the impact of prejudice on football, noting: “Football is still seen as a masculine thing… people think being gay makes you weak, but being gay doesn’t make me any less of a player.”
Former Attitude cover star Daniels added: “One thing I really want to do is be an advocate for the LGBTQ community, not just in football but outside of it as well… I really want to do it and promote it as much as possible.”
The documentary captures an emotional moment with Daniels and his mother, who speaks candidly about the challenges of supporting him. “Not really,” he admits when asked if he feels there is enough support for parents. “I’ve had some lonely moments with just my thoughts, and you don’t want everything to revolve around you. “You just want to be the strong mother, the supportive mother.”
“My mission is to show how diverse every sport can be” – Michael Gunning
Gunning also highlights the challenges athletes face in the face of stereotypes. “When I was a kid, I was always told that black people were sinking in the water and that I would never be good enough because of the color of my skin,” he reflects. “Myths and stereotypes are meant to be broken, and now I’m on a mission to show how diverse all sports can be.”
Daniels, who remains focused on breaking barriers in the world of football, says: “Why is coming out different in men’s sport? “I attribute it to football being a male sport, as you are seen as someone who ‘has to be strong’, but people think that being gay is ‘being weak’.”
Beneath the surface is now available to stream for free on YouTube.