As you've probably deduced by now, Teddy is a character created by me, John Leung. I'm a writer for SB Nation's Waking the Red, where I write mostly news and views about Major League Soccer, Toronto FC, and sometimes, the Canadian national women's soccer team. I'm an aspiring journalist here in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, but I've had some experience writing fiction before -- just not on this scale!
While I am interested in football/soccer as a sport, I've always been interested in the issues of diversity and inclusion within soccer. They say sports is the last bastion of acceptance in the world, especially for the LGBT community, but it's something that I see great strides of progress being made. But there are still many who play with teammates, hiding their greatest secrets from their peers -- and that is what I hope this project will help change.
The stories you are about to read is a culmination of many athlete coming out stories. The inspiration may be drawn from two people (namely David Testo and Stephen Bickford), but the stories you're about to read are drawn from dozens of stories from athletes who have come out. With this project, I hope I can help shine a light on a hidden side to sport few are privy to -- as perhaps offer a little hope for those who are suffering in silence. This story is dedicated to them, and for those who are still struggling with their identities.
(That means you know that any similarities to persons living or dead are purely coincidental, right? Of course you do...)
Now you're probably wondering how this project came along, right? Well, it came about one day when I was reading about a British author named Anthony Camber, whose book "Disunited" focuses mostly on England, where progress on inclusion lags far behind North America (something that British initiative Football vs. Homophobia is working hard to address, while Cyd Ziegler and his team at Outsports are fighting the good fight here on this side of the Pond). So I thought to myself, why not write something like that...but focusing on our side of the pond? So thus, was born the Teddy Perrault Diaries. I also dedicate this work to them.
I'm sure you've noticed that there are some illustrations in some of the entries -- those are the work of my friend, fellow TFC supporter, and all-around awesome artist Paul Marhue. He is the creator of a web comic series called "East Side Stand Up", a series that documents the trials and tribulations of TFC supporters. Visit his site, and you will see why he's so awesome.
And for their encouragement, advice, love, support and editing skills that allowed me to have the confidence to take this on, massive kudos go to WTR's editor in chief Duncan Fletcher, fellow WTR writer Kristin Knowles (a.k.a. the West Stand Girl -- she's the one who came up with the blog concept), and Gay4Soccer writer Adam Sell -- without their help, I probably would've been sunk.
I hope you enjoy this project. It's not much, but I hope that somewhere out there, someone who is need of a little hope can take some comfort that this story brings.
With peace, love and golden goals,
John Leung
February 3, 2013
Twitter: @johanneslanger
Email: john.leungcy@gmail.com
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