"It's stereotypical - but I knew I liked girls. It was such a taboo that I thought I had to like boys. I had boyfriends who were just my best mates. I thought that was love. I liked them, but not like that. It was confusing through my teenage years. I didn't have those feelings [for boys]. Was that weird? What do I do with that?"
"I learned a lot about myself. I didn't have that when I was young, I had so many doubts and questions. I was lying awake at night thinking 'is this weird or am I weird?' Being able to be that role model now with my partner, for so many young girls, is so important."
Kerstin Casparij grew up in Heerenveen, a small town in the north of the Netherlands, and knew she liked girls but did not realise being gay was an option. She first encountered the LGBTQ+ community when she joined Heerenveen's first team at 15 and experienced confusion through her teenage years while having boyfriends who were actually close friends. Casparij has built a successful career as a right-back with Manchester City and the Dutch national team, has 48 caps, and now lives with her partner Ruth. She is openly gay, wears rainbow laces, and actively promotes inclusivity and visibility for young girls in football.
Read at www.bbc.com
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