Dame Kelly Holmes cried during a Monday appearance on This Morning, after coming out as gay on Sunday.
The athlete, 52, tragically admits that she ‘didn’t feel she was ever happy’ but is now able to live her life authentically after years of living it in fear.
The tearful Phillip Schofield, appearing in February 2021, detailed her negative experiences in the military, where it was illegal for LGBTQ+ people to serve until 2000.
Open: Dame Kelly Holmes cried during Monday’s appearance on This Morning, after coming out as gay on Sunday
When asked by Phillip if she had ‘someone special’ in her life, Dame Kelly nodded – however she confirmed this over the weekend.
Speaking on the day show to promote her documentary Being Me, which will air on ITV on Sunday, the Olympian began: ‘When it was announced, I was in a bubble and the reaction was real. great but I feel that’s not the real world.
‘Now sitting here today, it feels like being in the real world. This is a big step for me to be open and honest.
‘I felt that was one reason I wanted to do the documentary, I needed to talk about this for myself and the documentary was a way for me to articulate a fear I’ve had for years.
Candidate: Tearful presenter Phillip Schofield, appearing in February 2021, she details her negative experiences in the military, where LGBTQ+ people who served up until 2000 were indistinguishable. legal
‘It informs people about the complexities of being gay. I’ve never said it publicly on TV and people don’t realize how hard it is to say it on TV. I’m not ashamed but I’ve had to keep it in my heart all these years. ‘
‘You read about gay rules in the military that being gay was illegal until 2000 but you can’t change who you are.
‘I love being a soldier but I can’t show it and it’s really difficult. There was an interrogation that happened and I talked to people who dealt with the really shocking things, the raids, the scary, the humiliating, the embarrassing. ‘
‘People have been tricked and they’ll come into your barracks and empty your drawers and try to find out if there’s any evidence that you’re gay.
Up and up! The athlete, 52, tragically admits she ‘didn’t feel she was ever happy’ but is now able to live her life authentically after years of living it in fear
Happier: When asked by Phillip if she had ‘someone special’ in her life, Dame Kelly nodded – however she confirmed this over the weekend
Affection: Phil flashed a warm smile towards the female athlete as his eyes welled up with tears
‘My friends and family used to write to me, everything went up in smoke. They’ll say, “Love Kerry or Lisa,” my best friend from school, you’ll put it in the trunk of your car so the sheriff doesn’t see it.
‘What you have to remember is that it’s a cause, people fought for their country. The documentary also goes through how wonderful it is now. I have a love hate relationship, I can never tell them, I can never be me.
‘This is 34 years of being scared a lot if they find out I’ll be in trouble. Just when I had a bad incident in December 2020…
‘I’ve always spoken very openly about my mental health but I can always relate it to sport but since I’ve become a self-harmer I don’t want to be outspoken here at some point in my life. my life.
Must-see: She speaks on the daytime show to promote the documentary Is Her Me, which will air on ITV on Sunday
Strong: Olympian begins: ‘When it was announced I was in a bubble and the reaction was amazing but I felt like it wasn’t the real world’
‘In 2020 I’ve had a really bad breakdown if I don’t release it I don’t know what to do.
‘I’m relieved to have finally made it but it’s hard to clear things up. I know the relief will come gradually and the last thing is to free yourself. I don’t feel like I’ve ever been happy, but I feel like I can now.
‘My friends and family have been there the whole time. I lived my private life like I did, my mother passed away, it was devastating and that was almost the beginning of the day I needed to change. It tore my heart
‘It took a whole four-and-a-half year process to get there, everything broke my heart. I know I have a voice to change everything, everyone has the right to live their life.
Related: Phillip spoke on This Morning about his battle with secrecy and the relief of coming out last year
Type: Phil and Holly Willoughby supported Dame Kelly as she bravely told her story
Role model: ‘Now sitting here today, it feels like the real world. This is a big step for me to be open and honest’
‘I’ve had complications since enlisting and then being an international athlete where nobody ever said I was gay.
‘It’s often in the back of my head. I finally made it and I would never say it wasn’t the best days of my life.
‘In my mind, it’s always cost me, “Will people find out? Will someone fire me?” because I’m still scared of what the military might do.
‘I hope people see my documentary. They will be shocked at the change the military has brought about over the past 22 years.
‘We know things have changed over the years, there’s more visibility now, I’m pretty sick with Covid and am lying on the sofa thinking, “When I die, all my friends and my family would take my side and say, ‘Isn’t it a shame she can’t be herself? ”
‘Things are more difficult being in the public eye. I hope a lot of people have barriers to talking to people.
‘There are so many people who accept you and they should be there to support you. We are human with emotions just like everyone else.
‘I hope people see what we say about it, it’s hard to say but I’m still the same person today as I was when I crossed that line.
‘I hope people see me as a role model because I will use my voice and make a difference for people.’
Source: | Dailymail.co.uk
