Dustin Lance Black Encourages LGBT Sports Players to Come Out

Dustin Lance Black urged closeted queer sports players, particularly soccer players, to come out during a speech in the United Kingdom this weekend.

Black, who is promoting his LGBT history series When We Rise, told the country's Press Association that soccer, or football, stars who are closeted could have a huge impact by being open about their sexuality.

"To those who do come out and make that brave act, you're saving lives. They truly are," he said. "There are a lot more gay kids out there who love football and want to play football and could be stars in football, but they're afraid."

Black is engaged to Olympic diver Tom Daley, who made waves in 2013 when he came out on YouTube. Since then, Daley has been advocate for queer sports players around the world.

Related: Tom Daley Talks Coming Out on YouTube, Cooking for Dustin Lance Black, and Ambitions for the Winter Olympics

Watch a segment from the Press Association interview with Dustin Lance Black below: