Mary Earps, the former England goalkeeper, has made a historic announcement revealing that she is in a same-sex relationship. The 32-year-old, who played for England during their successful 2022 European Championship campaign and vice-captained them at last year's World Cup, shared her news as part of an upcoming memoir.
According to Mary, being openly gay had always felt authentic to her, particularly as she's been close with her teammates throughout her career. She also stated that her management team is thrilled about the decision to share this aspect of her life as it can help inspire others to be true to themselves.
The news comes at a time when women's football has seen significant progress in terms of diversity and representation. In contrast, the men's game still struggles with having more openly LGBTQ+ players, such as no openly gay or bisexual players in last year's World Cup, but around 40 openly lesbian or bisexual women featured in this year's event.
Mary also spoke about how her decision to share her story in her book was an important step for her. She stated that coming out has nothing to do with the media and everything to do with being genuine and transparent.
According to Mary, being openly gay had always felt authentic to her, particularly as she's been close with her teammates throughout her career. She also stated that her management team is thrilled about the decision to share this aspect of her life as it can help inspire others to be true to themselves.
The news comes at a time when women's football has seen significant progress in terms of diversity and representation. In contrast, the men's game still struggles with having more openly LGBTQ+ players, such as no openly gay or bisexual players in last year's World Cup, but around 40 openly lesbian or bisexual women featured in this year's event.
Mary also spoke about how her decision to share her story in her book was an important step for her. She stated that coming out has nothing to do with the media and everything to do with being genuine and transparent.
I'm literally so hyped for Mary Earps!!! It's about time we see more women in football (or any sport) bein' their authentic selves, you know? She's a total legend on and off the pitch 
, and I love how she's not worried 'bout what others think. It's like, if it feels right for her, that's all that matters 
. And can we talk about how proud her teammates must be of her for bein' so brave? They're gonna have to update their squad goals 
! I'm defo gonna be pre-ordering her book ASAP, gotta read more 'bout this inspiring journey 
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. It's awesome that she's using her platform like this, it's gonna inspire so many young people who are still figuring out who they are 
. Women's football is making huge strides in terms of representation and I think this is just the cherry on top 
So proud of Mary Earps for being so brave & open about her relationship! It's awesome how she's using her platform to inspire others & create a positive impact on the sports world 
. Mary's honesty is super refreshing - it's all about being true to yourself & not hiding behind fear or expectations 
. Can't wait to read her memoir and see more of her story! 
! I'm so happy she's finally sharing her truth 
! As a fan of women's football, it's amazing to see more and more female players breaking the glass ceiling 
. The fact that Mary's openness can inspire others to be their authentic selves is truly special 
. I love how she said coming out has nothing to do with the media, but about being genuine & transparent 
. Can't wait to read her memoir and see her journey unfold 
! 
! It's about time we saw more women in football, let alone openly LGBTQ+ ones 
. I mean, it's not just about the number of people who come out, it's also about breaking down those barriers and making a statement that we're all equal and deserving of respect 
. Can't wait for her book to drop and get a glimpse into her amazing journey 
. Mary's courage is inspiring, especially since she's been able to open up to her teammates and fans without any issues 
32 years old and she's still facing this kind of stigma? 
i mean im glad shes doing it tho, its so inspiring for everyone especially the young girls out there who need people to look up to. but whats wild is that the men's game is still like super behind when it comes to lgbtq players 
like 40 lesbians in womens football is amazing btw but i dont think weve seen a single openly gay guy playmens football yet?
I think Mary's bravery shows us that sometimes you gotta take the leap, even if it means facing uncertainty or criticism head-on! It's awesome that she's using her platform to inspire others to do the same... and more importantly, being true to herself. 
. And what's with the "inspiring others" vibe? I mean, isn't that what everyone says when someone comes out, but it's not always genuine 
. I'm more concerned about why she felt like she had to share this now, is it just for her book or is there something else going on? And btw, 40 openly lesbian/bisexual women in the World Cup is still super low 
. It's progress, but we need more 
! Being true to oneself is something we should all strive for, especially in a world where everyone's still figuring things out 
. It's great to see more and more women stepping forward and sharing their stories - it can't be easy, but it's so powerful 
... let's keep pushing for a world where everyone feels comfortable being themselves