Tom Daley‘s most meaningful achievement in his final year of competitive diving might not have come at the Paris Olympics.
With his husband and their young sons watching on, the silver that Daley won alongside Noah Williams in the 10m synchro in late July completed the set of medal colors from his five Summer Games.
However, at the World Championships five months earlier, Daley was also part of a gold-medal-winning Great Britain quartet in the mixed team event.
And what added impact to the out gay athlete’s triumph alongside his friends in February was that he was visibly representing LGBTQ people in one of the most anti-LGBTQ countries on earth.
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In the Hamad Aquatic Centre in Doha, the capital of Qatar, Daley used a rainbow shammy towel to keep himself dry and to make a statement.
He had been outspoken from afar around the time of the 2022 FIFA World Cup, highlighting the persecution of queer people in the Gulf state and in other countries with similar laws.
Vocally campaigning from within Qatar would have been far too risky for Daley but by bringing his best self plus a Pride symbol to the event, he could play his part in countering the damaging narratives that lawmakers and the ruling elite continue to peddle about LGBTQ people.
It’s a theme of empowerment which Daley has returned to as he promotes a new exhibition in Japan — the only G7 nation that still does not allow gay marriage.
The exhibition is a celebration of knitted art that is being staged at the Parco Museum in Tokyo’s Shibuya district from Nov. 8-25. Daley, whose passion for crocheting has inspired thousands to pick up a pair of needles, is due to be there in person this Friday for a live workshop.
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In the city where Daley won Olympic gold three years ago and immediately afterwards spoke of his pride in being an out gay man, there is an opportunity to further break down stigmas and taboos.
The thread of a message in support of equality will run through the displays, reports The Guardian, while money raised from a silent auction of Daley designs and the sales of merchandise will go towards the “Marriage for All Japan” campaign.
Speaking to the newspaper, the 30-year-old explains that his main piece of advice gleaned from years of competing abroad, often in places where homosexuality is criminalized, is to always be unapologetically yourself.
“The most important thing is that LGBTQ+ people can be visible in countries where the laws are against them,” says Daley.
“The more powerful thing is to be able to go to a country that’s hosting a sporting event and just being you and succeeding and doing well.
“It’s such a powerful and strong message and sends a message of hope. I think all we can do as LGBTQ+ people is to be visible, to be out there and be ourselves. That in itself is a form of activism. And everyone can get involved in that.”
It’s undeniable that as a high-profile athlete and celebrity, Daley holds more privilege than a lot of other LGBTQ people.
But in the context of elite athletes, who don’t get to decide where in the world hosts their major events, he puts forward a realistic argument.
All too often, pressure is heaped on those who might want to participate rather than on where it should be — the governing bodies and sports federations, who are increasingly quick to put profits before people’s well-being and safety.
It also makes it much easier for the organizers of these tournaments when those LGBTQ people who are involved choose to remain invisible.
With Daley now stepping away from the sporting stage, it’s a chance for a new generation of courageous gay and bi men in sports to use their platforms productively and help in the ongoing fight for global freedoms.
The situation in Japan reminds us that LGBTQ rights are still so weak in so many parts of the world. But only by LGBTQ activism on the ground can they be adequately strengthened.
Last week, a second Japanese High Court ruling found the government’s discriminatory policy on equal marriage is unconstitutional. Even if that cause progresses, there are not many anti-discrimination protections in place for LGBTQ citizens in wider society across Japan.
Can the visibility of LGBTQ athletes really make a difference? Certainly for the “Marriage for All Japan” campaign team, Daley’s support matters — and you can be sure it’s not just his knitting that makes him the ideal frontman for an art exhibition in Tokyo.
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