A big studly World Cup winning rugby player with a wife & 2 kids is not an obvious younf man to become a gay rights activist, but 6’ 3’’ Ben Cohen is all that & more. The English player has announced his retirement from the sport this spring, aged 32, to dedicate his life to taking on bullying & homophobia.
Cohen is England’s second-highest scorer ever. I don’t know my football terms, but I understand that he is impressive & I would have to concur. He now put all his energies into promoting the Ben Cohen StandUp Foundation.
Cohen: "To be honest, I would never have imagined my career was going to move in this direction after my professional rugby career. But here we are… it's happening. It is incredibly exciting & we have so many plans in the pipeline to be able to make a difference."
Instead of taking a break before embarking on what he calls his "new career", Cohen is in the USA to promote a fund raising 'Ben Cohen Acceptance Tour'. Visiting gay & gay-friendly rugby clubs in the USA, Cohen will mix rugby training sessions at schools & colleges with a series of talks, voicing his passionate belief in equality.
Cohen: "In my view, rugby is a very inclusive sport. Everyone can get involved in one way or another, so I will be using it as a vehicle to drive my message of acceptance out to people from all walks of life, everywhere."
Cohen becomes the latest member of 2003 World Cup winning side to retire from the sport. He played a crucial role in that tournament. While he has been accused of failing to recapture the remarkable realization of his early career, Cohen himself admits that he could still have played for a few more seasons. But his new passion could not wait.
Cohen: "There is a lot of work to be done. Attitudes need to change. Young people should not be bullied into taking their own lives. That is what is happening & it needs to stop".
Cohen has become bit of a gay icon in recent years. He has appeared on the cover of gay magazines & has been an increasingly vocal advocate of gay rights. He claims to have been moved by the spate of suicides among young American homosexuals reported in the press last year. In one emotional video message, a visibly moved Cohen urged teenagers considering such action to think twice.
Cohen: "I have 3 year-old twin daughters & it would break my heart the fact that if they felt lonely & isolated that they couldn't speak to me or my wife. Remember that life is worth living, remember that you have the right to be happy, everyone does & you have the right to be loved & love others. Think twice, stop whatever you're thinking of doing & find someone to talk to & make them listen."
What a human being! What a sportsman! Such an amazing hero, Cohen gives me hope for the future. Straight but not narrow.
I am sorry to bring it down to this level. Although I pride myself on being an all purpose slut, Cohen is very much my "type". Please do not mention this to Anderson Copper.
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