Openly gay World Cup rugby referee Nigel Owens says at one stage of his difficult coming out process he asked his doctor if he could be chemically castrated and attempted suicide. Speaking on the BBC's Desert Island Discs programme Owens, who is considered one of the top Ruby referees in the world, says the pressure of refereeing the 2015 World Cup final between Australia and New Zealand was nothing compared to his struggles to accept his sexuality. Apparently-connected issues he also faced were bullemia after trying to lose weight and an addiction to steroids. He also went to a doctor, saying: “l do not want to be gay. Can I get chemically castrated?” He says he also attempted suicide, and was just 20 minutes from death. “I cried that night and realised, ‘I need to grow up’. He eventually came out publicly, in 2007, after realising he could not live a lie. If this story raises issues for you and you need to talk, help is available. Please call OUTLine on 0800 OUTLINE, or Rainbow Youth on (09) 376 4155.
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News staff
First published: Monday, 6th February 2017 - 10:54am