Former England goalkeeper, Mary Earps, has publicly revealed that she is in a same-sex relationship, telling the BBC she now “feels ready and happy to share” this aspect of her life.
The 32-year-old Paris Saint-Germain shot-stopper decided to make her sexuality public ahead of the release of her upcoming memoir, where she also opens up about her mental health journey and what she describes as a “really happy relationship.”
According to the BBC, Earps chose to make a personal statement so the revelation would be shared on her own terms, ensuring it would not overshadow other themes in her book.
Her manager, Tina Taylor, explained that Earps hopes her openness will encourage others to live truthfully.
Taylor said the goalkeeper wants to “inspire people around the world to find the confidence to live authentically.”
Speaking exclusively to the BBC, Earps noted that she had always preferred to keep her personal life apart from her football career but felt it would be “inauthentic” to exclude something so meaningful to her.
Taylor added that after the World Cup, the overwhelming support Earps received made her realize the positive influence she has had.
“By sharing details of her life away from football, something she’s never done before, Mary is telling her story in her own way. It’s honest and authentic,” Taylor said.
Compared to men’s football, the women’s game has significantly more openly gay players.
The 2022 men’s World Cup featured no openly gay or bisexual players, while the 2023 Women’s World Cup had more than 40.
Earps reportedly received encouragement and support from her former Lionesses teammates when she confided in them about her relationship.
In her statement to the BBC, she said, “I’ve always tried to keep my personal life separate from my professional one, but it would have felt inauthentic not to include something so important to me in this book.
“I’m in a really happy relationship. The people closest to me have always known, and I feel ready and happy to share that with everyone else now.”
Born in Nottingham, Earps was instrumental in England’s triumph at the Women’s Euros in 2022 and served as vice-captain during the 2023 Women’s World Cup, where England finished runners-up to Spain.
Her exceptional performances earned her the BBC Sports Personality of the Year award in 2023, which she described as an “incredible” moment.
The following year, she was honored with an MBE by Prince William in May 2024.
Known for her leadership on and off the pitch, Earps has often spoken about the importance of being a role model and paving the way for others.
In an August 2024 interview, she said, “I’m a very ambitious person, a very hard-working person, and I think to try and push boundaries and try and be a pioneer for change, in many ways, is something that I really enjoy doing, and hopefully I can do for the rest of my career.
“As Lionesses, one of the things that really sets us apart from other teams is how strong we are in our values and what we stand for.”
In today’s age of social media, many public figures can choose how and when to disclose their sexuality, a privilege not afforded to past generations of stars who faced damaging press intrusion.
That kind of pressure still exists, however. In 2023, Rebel Wilson revealed her same-sex relationship only after an Australian journalist allegedly planned to expose it in a gossip column, sparking outrage over media ethics.
For Earps, her announcement is less about “coming out” for the first time, as she was already open with those close to her and more about sharing her truth with the wider public.
Ultimately, the England international said it simply would have felt “inauthentic” to remain silent about something “so important” to her life and identity.
