Footballer Neville Southall labelled ‘gay’ after tweeting support for LGBT rights
The conversation quickly turned to tigers
![](https://www.attitude.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2018/01/JS47818063.jpg)
Retired footballer Neville Southall has defended himself after he was called gay for supporting LGBT+ rights.
The former Everton player and Welsh International made headlines last October after he tweeted his support for LGBT+ people this people.
In the tweet, Southall wrote that LGBT+ people should be able to live without fearing any kind of discrimination.
If your gay straight trans or anything else you should be able to be what u want
Not live a lie
Without discrimination or prejudice— Neville Southall (@NevilleSouthall) October 12, 2017
It read: “If your gay straight trans or anything else you should be able to be what you want. Not live a lie. Without discrimination or prejudice”.
The tweet quickly went viral and amassed thousands of retweets and comments. However, it led people to question Southall’s own sexuality.
In a tweet posted last night, Southall wrote: “I find it funny that if I tweet something about LGBT stuff people ask me if I am gay but if I tweet about animals they never ask if I am a tiger. Why”.
I find it funny that if I tweet something about LGBT stuff people ask me if I am gay but if I tweet about animals they never ask if I am a tiger 🐅
Why— Neville Southall (@NevilleSouthall) January 14, 2018
The tweet drew several responses, one of whom thanked Southall for being a “great ally”.
One user asked Southall if he was tiger, to which he reponsed with: “On occassion”. The user then asked him, “Are you a gay tiger, Nev?” And he responded: “Tigers are very private animals.”
Rawr you can be my tiger 😘 rawr xd
— Cartlon Cole (@_CarltonCole9) January 14, 2018
Meanwhile, a parody Twitter account for former West Ham plater Cartlon Cole commented: “Rawr you can be my tiger”.