Gareth Thomas CBE
A former international rugby legend turned inspirational mental health campaigner, Gareth Thomas is one of the most influential LGBT+ personalities in the UK. In 2009 Gareth made the courageous decision to publicly announce he was gay, the first British rugby player to ever do so. Throughout his life, Gareth always struggled with his sexuality and identity and sought to hide it from the wider world. So much so that he even married a woman in 2001 to try and keep his true self a secret.
Battling with his sexuality has seen Gareth also struggle with mental health, and he now works as one of the most inspiring mental health and well-being speakers on the circuit. At all of his events, he uses his own experiences to help others who may be struggling, demonstrating how there is light at the end of the tunnel and encouraging people to speak out if they’re suffering.
Prior to his coming out story making headlines, Gareth was one of Wales’ greatest rugby stars who represented his side on 100 occasions and scored 200 points. His debut came in 1995 against Japan, and in 1999 he made history by scoring four tries in a match against Italy. In 2007, he broke Gareth Llewellyn’s record to become Wales’ most capped ever player and is regarded as one of the greatest players to ever represent his nation. In his role as a mental health speaker, he can discuss his rugby career at length, explaining how the sport helped him channel his feelings while hiding his sexuality.
Since he came out as gay in 2009, he has become one of the most famous LGBT+ figures in the country. In fact, in 2010 he was voted the most influential gay person in the UK by The Independent and also received a Stonewall’s ‘Hero of the Year’ award.
In 2019, Gareth announced that he had been diagnosed with HIV, with undetectable status meaning he is not infectious. Since the diagnosis, Gareth has campaigned for more awareness of the condition and vowed to break the stigma of the illness. As one of the most popular mental health speakers around, he can explain how he’s come to terms with his illness and his intentions to help others in any way he can.
If you’re searching for mental health speakers who can really make an impact, Evolve is here to help. Gareth Thomas is the perfect choice for every corporate or personal event, so contact our team today to find out more.
Topics and Themes
- Diversity and Inclusion
- Rugby
- HIV
- Sporting Success
- Motivational
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