Tag: Danell Leyva

Posted on

US Olympic Gymnast Danell Leyva Comes Out

3-time Olympic medalist Danell Leyva (screen capture)
Gymnast Danell Leyva, who represented Team USA at two Olympic Games, came out to his 52,000+ followers on Twitter earlier this month on National Coming Out Day. “For a long time I’ve known that I wasn’t straight,” began the 28-year-old Cuban-American. “But because of certain very personal reasons, I always rejected that side of me.” Leyva added, “Earlier this year I finally understood that I’m bi/pan (still trying to figure that one out) but I also realized that, as of now at least, I’m not attracted to cis men.”

Speaking to Olympic Channel, Leyva shared that stereotypes about men in his sport, plus his own determination to not give homophobes “the satisfaction of being right,” slowed his coming out process in some respects. “[The stereotypes were] such a big factor in it, just not giving those people the satisfaction of being right because it doesn’t come from a good place,” said Leyva. “It wasn’t somebody that was trying to help us understand [our sexuality]. It was just somebody pointing at us and that doesn’t feel good.”

The Olympic champion also noted that, as he was growing up, he would “always somewhat reject” his sexuality. “And especially coming from Hispanic family, it’s very much rejected,” he added. Leyva says he had been thinking about coming out for a while and almost shared the news this past June during Pride Month. But with Black Lives Matter protests happening across the nation in the aftermath of George Floyd’s homicide, he reconsidered. “I was like, ‘No, I’m not really that important,’” said Leyva. “And so I decided to just kind of forget about it, and I did forget about it.” Until, that is, until this year’s National Coming Out Day and those five empowering tweets. Since sharing his authentic self with the world, Leyva says the response he’s received has been overwhelmingly positive and supportive. Among the many who have sent messages of support were fellow Olympic gymnasts Aly Raisman, Simone Biles, and out figure skater Adam Rippon.

Also comforting to the 2011 World parallel bars champion were messages giving him space to not worry about this label or that label. “In the post, I said that I’m still trying to figure out between whether I’m a bi or pan. It was nice to have people be like, ‘You don’t have to label it. You don’t have to just be ‘a thing’. It’s an ever-changing fluid thing, so you don’t have to worry about that,’” explained the world-class athlete. “That was nice because that was certainly reassuring.” “You know, it’s such a non-issue,” he continued. “It literally means nothing that if you’re just like, ‘Oh, you’re left-handed? That’s cool. Oh, you’re bi? That’s cool.’ Like, it’s really nothing.” “Everybody’s different, you know?” said Leyva before adding, “And at the same time, we’re not.” Leyva hopes that his coming out might offer some inspiration to those considering coming out themselves. “If I get help one person be brave enough to live in their truth, then I feel like that that was the entire point of that post.” And speaking of ‘inspiration,’ let’s flashback to Leyva’s exhibition performance on the parallel bars at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games.

Posted on

Just Because – Danell Leyva

(photo: Timur Emek)
 

After handling the pressures of two Olympic Games, three-time Olympic medalist Danell Leyva knows how to look cool.

Regular readers know I flipped for the handsome U.S. gymnast (as did much of the world) during the past two summer Olympic Games.

And even more so when I found out he’s an ardent equal rights ally. 

#woof

More on dashing Danell here.

(h/t Aaron Baldwin)

Posted on

Radio Show: This Week In LGBT News

Dancing With The Stars champ Nyle DiMarco

Take a listen to my latest radio show episode, hosted on BlogTalkRadio, which aired today.

Episode synopsis:

Join Randy as he wraps up the latest in LGBT news from the worlds of entertainment, music, politics and sports.

• Three time Olympic medalist Danell Leyva is not only a double-silver medal winner but an ardent equal rights activist ally

• Hottie Nick Jonas talked about criticism he received for playing a gay MMA fighter on “Kingdom”

• “American Idol” alum/out musician David Hernandez drops his new single and music video “Beautiful”

• “America’s Next Top Model” & “Dancing With The Stars” champ Nyle DiMarco announced as next ‘Celebrity Guest Host’ for the world-famous Chippendales

• E! Network cancels “I Am Cait” after only two seasons

• A new study shows homophobic men are possibly just hiding their own latent homosexuality

Tune in as Randy covers these stories and more.

Hit the play button below to listen.

3-time Olympic medalist Danell Leyva

Nick Jonas
Caitlyn Jenner
Posted on

Just Because: U.S. Gymnast Danell Leyva Is A Class Act

Posted on

U.S. Gymnast Danell Leyva Puts On A Show At Rio Gala Gymnastics

Shirtless Danell Leyva performs at Rio Olympics Gymnastic Gala - woof!

U.S. gymnast Danell Leyva, who won two silver medals at the Rio Olympics, returned to the floor one last time for the Gala Gymnastics.

The event is not a competition but an entertainment, and it’s clear the hunky Leyva, who’s also an ardent equal rights activist, knows exactly what an audience wants from him.

Easily a Randy Report favorite from these olympic games.

Word is Danell plans to head to LA where he’d like to become an actor. I think a guest stint at Chippendales is in order.

h/t to Aaron Baldwin for the tip 🙂

Posted on

Olympic Gymnast Danell Leyva Stands Up For LGBT Rights “Make America Gay Again”

Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports

Three time Olympic medalist Danell Leyva made a powerfully bold statement back in June (wearing a powerfully bold pro-LGBT t-shirt – “Make America Gay Again”) on his Instagram back in June in the aftermath of the Pulse Nightclub shooting in Orlando, Florida, which left 49 dead and dozens more injured.

The love within the LGBT community is so much stronger than the hatred against it. And it is our responsibility as non-LGBT people to emulate this love and create a world where LGBT people don’t need to crate their own safe spaces. That is a promise I’m making.”

Leyva goes on to stand up not only for gay and lesbian rights but for transgender rights for the dignity to use the bathroom that aligns with their gender identity.

Big thanks to LGBT activist Aaron Baldwin for the heads up. We knew Danell rocked, but it’s very important and powerful that we see these full throated messages from our LGBT allies.

Oh, and by the way, how about his 2 Olympic silver medals today at the Rio Olympic games??? Winners rise.

Congrats to Danell for showing us greatness inside and out. Watch his message of unity below.