“It’s honestly not something I gave too much thought to, it was just about ‘I’m Demi and I’m authentic’, and I didn’t do the post to say ‘I’m gay, I’m here, I’ve arrived’, it was more just that I openly spoke about my partner and that’s it. That’s how it should be: If you’re going out with a boy, a girl, it doesn’t matter, it shouldn’t change anything,” Stokes said.
“It’s about being comfortable with yourself, and the men’s game is very different, there’s a lot of taboo there, and I think you can see there are players [in the men’s game] that are starting to come out and the more players that do that does encourage the next person. It’s a slow process but within our game we welcome everyone and I think that’s good.
“I think as well sharing my story and being quite open and honest about a lot of things, I think can help a lot of people, it’s about using my voice. And some topics are uncomfortable, and I don’t know everything, but [I’d like to] use my platform to help the next person.”
Asked what she thought the women’s game’s more welcoming and inclusive culture was down to, the 30-year-old added: “I don’t think I have the answer to that but I think our fans are great, and team-mates, and it’s just about ‘be yourself’, being authentic with it, and if you open up on it nobody can pull you up on that.
“Equally, the support that you have around you does make it easier. But it’s about being yourself, and people will love you for who you are and who you want to be.”
Regardless of whether or not England succeed at July’s Euros, the birth of baby Harlen means this has already been an unforgettably happy year for Stokes, who says her son has “lots of aunties” within the Lionesses squad who are asking to see baby photos every day.
