Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
MY CORRIE GAY PLOT MAY HELP PREM ACE
Rugby player helps Street’s Nathan tackle ‘outing’ story
CORONATION Street actor Nathan Graham hopes his depiction of gay footballer James Bailey may help a Premier League star to come out.
Next week will see Nathan’s character, professional footballer James Bailey, accidentally outed on social media.
Nathan sought advice for the role from gay rugby league player, Halifax’s Keegan Hirst, 32, to help ensure his depiction of his character was accurate and to ask about what it is like coming out.
The pair met at the show’s set and spent several hours talking.
The storyline comes after a number of reports suggesting a player may be close to coming out as the first openly gay player in the Premier League.
Nathan told the Mirror: “I think it’s had a positive reaction so far.
“Nobody wants to be the first of this new generation, I guess that’s how anyone would feel. It’s a real shame that people don’t feel they can come out, because I feel like we’ve moved on.”
In the plotline, James fears his career will be over if he comes out publicly and he is scared of the repercussions from fans and the press.
Nathan, 28, said: “After talking to Keegan Hirst, I can see that in football, homophobia is not seen as being on the same level as racism.
“It is good to spark that conversation and then hopefully it will educate people that discrimination is discrimination no matter what it is: race, religion, sexuality.
“Keegan said if a fan says something negative it is hurtful to hear but he doesn’t let it affect him.”
Coronation Street continues on Monday, Wednesday and
Friday on ITV.