Ryan Atkin has become England’s first known gay professional official.
Atkin will take charge of games in the National League North and South this season.
He has already performed as a referee’s assistant in EFL matches including the Championship.
“Role models are important to show that being gay and being interested in football are by no means mutually exclusive,” Atkin told Sky Sports.
“Homophobia is still a problem but things are improving all the time. You can change the game and culture by changing your mind. Referees get a lot of stick for a number of reasons but their sexual orientation cannot be one of them.
“I myself have never been a victim of homophobic abuse but I am aware others have been. The biggest challenge I might face in the future as an openly gay referee would potentially be dealing with homophobia that could come from players, spectators and possibly even refereeing colleagues, though so far I have found officials within football to be very open-minded. It’s something the game can be proud of.”
The Football Association has reacted positively to the 32-year-old’s revelation of his sexuality and hailed it as a landmark sign of progress.
“Ryan’s declaration marks an important moment in the game and reinforces the fact that refereeing really is open to everyone,” Neale Barry, the FA head of senior referee development, said.
“He believes people who are happy in their own skin perform better and I couldn’t agree more. Our role is to support all referees, aid their development, maximise their potential and, above all, help ensure their experiences are positive.”
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