The Last Taboo

The fight for inclusivity of LGBTQ+ people has made possible queer heads of state, lawmakers, entertainers, and executives, but very few openly gay athletes. Soccer, FIFA referee Igor Benevenuto argued, remains “one of the most hostile environments” for gay men, and to date less than ten players have come out.  

Manfred Oldenburg’s documentary THE LAST TABOO explores the tensions between the brotherhood, masculinity, homophobic banter on-field, surprising support off-field, and pressures of celebrity that make professional soccer a challenging frontier for the LGBTQ+ movement. Gay players like Thomas Hitzlsperger, Collin Martin, and Matt Morton offer their perspectives on this enduring taboo: its origins, its consequences, and how to move beyond it.

Image © Broadview Distribution GmbH