Perhaps it shouldn’t seem incongruous when a rather large, tough-looking man usually seen running furiously while hugging a rugby ball, comes out as gay, but it does.

Equally, we shouldn’t be surprised when this butch and macho figure is announced as a patron of LGBT History Month. Oddly, we are. It’s hard to shuck off stereotypes sometimes.

Gareth Thomas, the most capped Welsh rugby player of all time, currently playing wing, fullback or centre for Cardiff Blues, came out as gay recently.

Thirty-five-year-old Thomas told the Daily Mail last December, “Just because you are gay, it doesn’t mean you fancy every man who walks the planet. I don’t want to be known as a gay rugby player. I am a rugby player first and foremost. I am a man.”

Probably a bigger man, some might argue, for coming out as gay, when many more would not. Citing the Daily Mail article, the BBC website said:

Cardiff Blues utility back Thomas said he had been through “all sorts of emotions” over the issue, since first knowing he was gay in his late teens.

He revealed that he was “anxious about people’s reactions” to his being gay and that he felt he could not have come out earlier in his rugby career.

“It is the toughest, most macho of male sports, and with that comes an image,” Thomas said.

“In many ways, it is barbaric, and I could never have come out without first establishing myself and earning respect as a player.

“Rugby was my passion, my whole life, and I wasn’t prepared to risk losing everything I loved.”

LGBT History Month numbers our publisher, the Pink Triangle Trust (PTT), among its sponsors. Of Gareth Thomas, the History Month website says:

Thomas’s 100 caps for Wales will go down in history, but he rocked the establishment in December 09, when he became the first international rugby union player to come out as a gay man. He currently plays for the Cardiff Blues.

He is very open about his own experience of homophobia and is determined to do all he can to change things for the next generation.

“I feel honoured to have been asked to be the Patron of LGBT History Month. I don’t want to just make this a token role however; I intend to be hands on within my role, not only to make a difference to others, but to also grow myself.”

LGBT History Month will be focusing on Sport in 2011 and 2012, and Thomas is keen to play an active part in raising the visibility of LGBT people in sport.

Co-chair Tony Fenwick was delighted to welcome the new patron:

“Gareth Thomas is a legend in the world of rugby. For someone of his stature to come out will be of enormous benefit to young players.

“I deeply admire his honesty and his genuine commitment to kick homophobia into touch. We’re already talking about an exciting project!

“We’re honoured to have him on board as a patron. He’s already showing himself to be a respected role model and we look forward to working with such a wonderful ambassador.”