John Amaechi becomes a patron of LGBT History Month

John_Amaechi

LGBT History Month proudly announced its latest patron today – basketball star and bestselling author John Amaechi. Amaechi first picked up a basketball at 17. He was considered ‘too late to the game’ and ‘not athletic enough’ to succeed in the UK, let alone overseas. Within 12 years, he had earned himself a place in the US Basketball Hall of Fame. He captained the England squad since his arrival to the team in 1997 and even in ‘retirement’ led the English Squad to Bronze in the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne.
In his bestselling autobiography, Man in the Middle, he showed that ‘...despite what we are often told, the most unlikely of people, in the most improbable of circumstances can become extraordinary.'

He is now a psychologist specialising in motivation and self esteem. He works with his own charity as well as local and national government to harness the power of young people through holistic sporting centres for urban communities.

Many people will know him for his TV and radio work. He is a sporting ambassador for Amnesty International and reported from the Beijing Olympic Games on both human rights and basketball.

LGBT History Month will be focusing on Sport in 2011 and 2012, and Amaechi is keen to play an active part in raising the visibility of LGBT people in sport. He commented:
"It gives me great pleasure to join LGBT History Month as a patron.

“Throughout my youth and to this day, I have seen the power of visible people in our society acting as role models.

“I hope by joining with LGBT History Month, I will be able to play a small part in providing a more diverse pool of visible role models to all young people within and outside the LGBT community."

Co-chair Sue Sanders was delighted to welcome the new patron:
“John Amaechi is a living legend. His sporting achievements alone are awe inspiring, but his work since retiring from basketball puts him in a league of his own.

“Self esteem is a huge issue in the LGBT community and John’s expertise as a psychologist will give us a unique professional insight into LGBT issues in spot.

"We’re honoured to welcome him on board as a patron and look forward to working with such a wonderful ambassador.”