The PFA were invited to support Kick It Out's campaign, with the video causing controversy as it contains strong language and depicts acts of gay abuse.

"We are supportive of the issue but I don't see it as my job to set players up to be targets," Taylor told Press Association Sport.

"It is a sensitive issue and using players would lead to questions about their private lives from the media, which happens anyway without any encouragement."

The Football Association's launch of the video, produced by Ogilvy agency, was postponed last week.

Taylor added on BBC Radio Five Live: "The FA, who we work with on equality issues, wanted to do a DVD against homophobia, asked us to support them and we said yes.

"We don't think it's the biggest issue in the game but it's the same as anti-Semitism, Islamophobia - we believe we've conducted a successful campaign against racism - so we said yes.

"They were supposed to be doing a launch of the DVD and that was pulled for some reason, albeit it was shown on Newsnight."

One approach suggested was to involve the whole England team but the FA disagreed.

"They didn't wish to do that," he said. "They wanted to look for one player at every Premier League club.

"But the Premier League and the Football League didn't think it was an issue. They didn't think it was a big enough issue (to ask individual players to get involved)."

It is understood the Premier League were involved at the planning stage of the project but did not agree with the content of the video. Sources at the Premier League also insist they take the problem of homophobia seriously.

Unlike with racism, Taylor said there had been no clamour from players for the PFA to deal with the issue.

He continued: "We haven't (been approached by any gay footballers). With regard to racism, there was a consistent issue which we felt we had to address. At the moment, we've not had any such approaches.

"It's no use me saying it's not an issue because it's an issue in society but it's not very high on the agenda in football.

"Having said that, it could well be that many players don't have the courage or confidence to come out."

Bolton boss Owen Coyle would encourage his players to help the campaign.

He said today: "I think if there are any game-related issues that we can help to improve, I think it is important as a group that we try to help. I have always said that."

Former England and Chelsea defender Graeme Le Saux is one player who was singled out for homophobic abuse, although he is not gay, and he spoke out about how it affected his life in his autobiography.

Le Saux wrote: "Because I had different interests, because I didn't feel comfortable in the laddish drinking culture that was prevalent in English football in the late 1980s, it was generally assumed by my team-mates that there was something wrong with me. It followed, naturally, that I must be gay."