Sir Ian Athletes Need to Come Out

Actor Sir Ian McKellen said the sporting world should be "ashamed of itself" for its homophobia on a BBC radio show Thursday.

McKellen said that the lack of LGBT acceptance turned sports stars into "shrinking violets" when it came to publicly announcing their sexuality, according to the BBC.

The 70-year-old gay actor said that athletes are slower than the rest of the world as far as their attitudes toward coming out and homosexuality in general.

"It ain't going to stop someone being a fantastic footballer because they're honest about their private lives, is it?" he said. "I don't believe so and the world is changing and sport, I'm afraid, is very slow to catch up."