Justin

Justin

UK/2011/30mins/HDV/English
Direction, camera and editing by Ian McDonald

Additional camera by James Marcus Tucker
Producer: Geetha J

Justin Fashanu, the only openly gay professional footballer, committed suicide on May 2nd 1998.  Justin – a troubling figure to the gay community, an embarrassing figure to the black community, a ridiculed figure in the soccer community – is a man best forgotten. But seemingly out of the blue, ten years after Justin’s death, the Justin Campaign against homophobia is launched. Justin is the story of Justin and the campaign named in his honour. While the campaigners strive to establish May 2nd as Justin Fashanu Day, Justin’s life and death is remembered by his family, friends, fans and the coach who discovered him. Their accounts, in some cases being told on camera for the first time, create a poignant portrait of Justin in all his brilliance and beauty as well as his insecurities and indiscretions.