Bisexual rugby pro Levi Davis ‘overwhelmed with positivity’ since becoming one of the sport’s only out players
Levi Davis poses for a portrait for the 2018-19 Gallagher Premiership Rugby season (Dan Mullan/Getty)
Bisexual rugby pro Levi Davis has been “overwhelmed with positivity” since he came out in a moving interview last week.
The ex-Bath and England rugby player came out in an interview with the Mail on Sunday on 13 September after overcoming a “sense of shame” that led him to drink and mental health issues.
Reflecting on his momentous coming out, the former Celebrity X Factor contestant said the public reaction has been positive.
Speaking to BT Rugby Tonight, Davis said: “It’s been overwhelmingly positive. I had lots of messages on my phone and Instagram. Haven’t got quite around to reading all or replying to them all,” he said.
“It genuinely is overwhelming but it has been very, very positive.”
Levi Davis came out as bisexual after taking time to reflect throughout coronavirus lockdown.
The rugby star continued: “Throughout COVID I have had a lot of time to reflect and over the last four years, it’s something that was eating away at me slowly.
“It’s not been the only cause but it has been a part of the cause of my depression, my anxiety in certain parts, my drinking for a certain period as well after the X Factor.
“I just thought it was important to share, one for myself, but two for others if anyone is struggling.
“I just wanted to be a shining light in that respect… I had talked to my friends about being unapologetically themselves. I felt like I had to then reflect the positivity that I try and give to others. I should give it to myself.”
Davis said he does not see himself as a “symbol” by being bisexual, and said he wants to continue leading the way by just being himself.
“I just want to do me, do you know what I mean?” he said.
“It sounds cliched but be unapologetically yourself and be true to yourself,” he added.
It genuinely is overwhelming but it has been very, very positive.
“You have to live in your own mind so make it a nice place to live in and be true to yourself.”
Speaking to the Mail on Sunday on 13 September, Davis revealed that he came out to his teammates by posting a message to a WhatsApp group.
It was a “spur of the moment” decision, but it paid off.
“I had hidden it well but I couldn’t keep it secret any longer,” he said.
“I had to tell them, all of them, not just a few. I didn’t want it to turn into Chinese whispers.”
His teammates were overwhelmingly supportive.
“And then they began taking the p**s in a good-natured way, which I was relieved about,” Davis said. “If they had been too tender-hearted, I would have been worried. I’m still a rugby player, after all!”
