Gay British wheelchair tennis player Greg Slade shares heartwarming response to coming out

Gay British wheelchair tennis player Greg Slade has shared a heartwarming response to his coming out post. 

On 19 January, Slade took to Instagram ahead of the Australian Open to share with the world that he’s gay. 

“As one of only a handful of gay men playing at the highest levels in tennis, I want to use this privilege and uniqueness of my position to help bring about positive change,” he wrote. 

The post, which was in collaboration with Pride in Tennis, saw the 23-year-old announce that he would be working with the organisation to “further amplify their important work”. 

View this post on Instagram

Speaking to the Press Association, Slade said he had contemplated whether coming out was right for him. 

“I doubted whether it was right for me, of course, because, across any sort of issue within society or any minority, it’s always really difficult to be one of the first because actually you’re going where so few people have been before.” 

‘It’s been really lovely’

He said that he was concerned about the reaction, but added: “There’s been a couple of [negative] things here and there but there’s always going to be.

“And actually, you’re talking about a handful of people compared to literally thousands of people who have either reached out or liked it or seen it, or followed and offered their support. The reaction has been largely very, very positive. It’s been really lovely.”

Slade’s coming out follows Brazilian tennis player João Lucas Reis da Silva coming out in late 2024. Silva came out as gay by sharing a sweet snap of his partner Gui Sampaio Ricardo to celebrate his birthday.

Last year, rising Swiss tennis player Mika Brunold also come out as gay in a heartwarming message posted to Instagram.

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