Tag: out athletes

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Milwaukee Brewers Minor Leaguer David Denson Comes Out

David Denson, first baseman for the Milwaukee Brewers’ minor league team in Helena, Montana, has come out to the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel.

The news-making announcement makes Denson the first openly gay player affiliated with Major League Baseball.

Benson explained that he actually came out to his teammates some weeks ago when one of his teammates jokingly called him a “fag,” and David answered:

“Be careful what you say. You never know.”

That led to a conversation that led to other players gathering around, and soon, Denson was out.

“Talking with my teammates, they gave me the confidence I needed, coming out to them.

“They said, ‘You’re still our teammate. You’re still our brother. We kind of had an idea, but your sexuality has nothing to do with your ability. You’re still a ballplayer at the end of the day. We don’t treat you any different. We’ve got your back.’

“That was a giant relief for me. I never wanted to feel like I was forcing it on them. It just happened. The outcome was amazing. It was nice to know my teammates see me for who I am, not my sexuality.”

The Milwaukee Brewers organization issued this statement of support:

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English Rugby Star Keegan Hirst Comes Out As Gay

Keegan Hirst, 27 year old Rugby League player, has become the first English professional in the sport to come out.

From the Mirror:

Speaking exclusively to the Sunday Mirror, the dad of two tells of the moment he finally found the words to explain to his wife the reason they could no longer be together.

And he talks emotionally of the support he got, not only from her but also from his rugby team-mates.

The 6ft 4in captain of West ­Yorkshire side Batley Bulldogs said: “At first I couldn’t even say ‘I’m gay’ in my head, let alone out loud.

“Now I feel like I’m letting out a long breath that I’ve held in for a long time.”

Speaking for the first time about coming to terms with being gay, Keegan adds: “I had a wife and kids. I’ve been a builder, doorman, worked in factories – I play rugby.

“I tick every macho box. How could I be gay? I’m from Batley for goodness sake. No one is gay in Batley.”

And he reveals: “The only time I felt free of the torment was when I stepped on the rugby pitch. Now I feel free.”

Later, Hirst tweeted out his thanks for the strong support he’s received today:

Congrats to Keegan for living his life openly and being authentic to himself.

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Out Football Player Michael Sam Leaves The Montreal Alouettes

“The last 12 months have been very difficult for me, to the point where I became concerned with my mental health. Because of this I am going to step away from the game at this time. I thank the Alouettes for this opportunity and hope to be back on the field soon. Thank you all for your understanding and support.”

A week ago Sam was prepping for his debut with the Montreal Alouettes.

Now, it appears he’s left the team.

From Outsports:

Sam’s time in Montreal has been a roller coaster. After much fanfare about his signing, he left the team for personal reasons the day before his first preseason game in June. When he returned to the team it was revealed that he had ended his relationship with his then-fiancé. In July he allegedly struggled to get into football shape, and reports claimed dissension on the team due to “preferential treatment” of the openly gay player.

He appeared in his team’s game at Ottawa last week but did not record a sack or tackle in limited action. Last night he was not present for his team’s game against the Edmonton Eskimos, either on the roster or in the stadium.

It is worth noting the incredible pressures put on Sam.

Before he came out a year and a half ago, before the NFL draft, he was expected to be a 3rd round draft pick based on his senior year play and being named SEC Defensive Player of the Year. Within hours of coming out, football websites saw his potential draft pick possibilities drop to maybe 5th or 6th round.

In the end, he was picked #249 in the 7th round.

Months later, it was revealed Sam never intended to come out in such a public fashion. He told the press his intention was to quietly come out to whatever team picked him up. That was how he handled coming out at Mizzou, and all went well.

But the press was apparently about to out him, and he felt he needed to control the story rather than let it unwind on it’s own.  I’d have done the same thing.

I think from there things spiraled, and it became a “one foot in front of the other” situation. Survive.

All Sam wanted to do was play football. A sport that gave him solace and strength in a difficult childhood.

Truly heartbreaking. I certainly wish Sam well.

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Kentucky: Out High School Senior Dalton Maldonado On Being Removed From Yearbook

From the Facebook page of high school senior Dalton Maldonado.

Earlier today, after receiving many good wishes and lots of support from all over the country, I received a call from the superintendent of schools. He told me that I was in the annual fifteen times, and that they may have over looked my senior basketball picture.

He went on to say that they were going to make a new annual and he hoped I knew they were so proud of me.

However, here is the picture that should have been in the yearbook, along with the rest of the senior basketball players!

They took Outsports’ first article about my experience and swept it under the rug, as if the harassment and humiliation never happened!

I refuse to let this happen again! I was a senior point guard who had played for three years, and I was even in the center of the team picture. I don’t care if I was in other parts 100 times, my individual picture wasn’t in there!

I find it unbelievable that their “investigation” took less than one whole school day and once again they’re just letting it go!

I will not stop fighting this. No one deserves this, and I’ll make sure no other LGBT teen in Floyd Co has to face this type of discrimination!

Maldonado was the starting point guard for his high school basketball team. After he came out as gay, the school left his picture out of a two-page spread in the year book.

The school claims it was an oversight.

Riiiiiiiiight…

Good for Dalton for standing up for himself.

Read more at Outsports.

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Michael Sam Finally Makes History As First Openly Gay Football Player In A Regular Season Game

Michael Sam

Finally making history, Michael Sam became the first openly gay professional football player to take to the field in a regular season game last night as he made his debut with the Montreal Alouettes against the Ottawa Redblacks.

Entering the game late in the first quarter, Sam played throughout the rest of the game. The Alouettes lost the game 26-23.

“I was focusing on my assignments, actually,” Sam said when asked if he was thinking of the significance of the moment prior to kickoff.

“I’m not going to lie, there were some big jitters out there and I was nervous when I first got on the field. I didn’t get any opportunities to make many plays. I had some good pass rushes I thought.

Sam is currently signed to a two year contract with Montreal.

Shortly after Sam’s debut, openly gay former NBA player Jason Collins sent out the following tweet in support:

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Tonight On HBO: “Back On Board – Greg Louganis”

Do not miss “Back on Board: Greg Louganis,” a documentary following the life of openly gay and HIV-positive Olympian Greg Louganis, on HBO tonight at 10PM.

Only 28-years-old when he was first diagnosed with HIV, Louganis was one of the first openly gay men in sports. The documentary chronicles the four-time Olympic gold medalist’s life since becoming a household name in the 1980s.

“I didn’t feel welcomed in diving,” Louganis, now 55 years old, says in the trailer. “There was homophobia. Some of my teammates were calling my fag.”

Louganis’s decision to live openly and authentically paved the way for several other gay and lesbian athletes, such as Michael Sam, Jason Collins, Robbie Rogers, Brittney Griner, Orlando Cruz, Megan Rapinoe, Lori Lindsey and Tom Daley.

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News Round-Up: August 2, 2015

Some news stories you may have missed:

• HBO programming chief Michael Lombardo acknowledges canceling LGBT series “Looking” was a painful decision.

• Just for the fun of it – here’s the best TV bloopers from local news reports in the past month. Folks are human, don’t you know?

• Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker still backs a Constitutional amendment allowing states to ban same-sex marriage.

• Anti-gay Congressman Steve King says the recent SCOTUS ruling on same-sex marriage means you can now marry your lawn mower.

• Donald Trump may be riding high amid his GOP competitors, but a new poll shows every Democratic nominee would beat him.

• Did former One Directioner Zayn Malik throw shade at his former bandmates?

• GOP hopeful Dr. Ben Carson doesn’t know if the Bible has “authority” over the U.S. Constitution.
(Here’s a clue – it doesn’t. Separation of Church and State and all that, don’t you know…)

• Two current NFL players say they would come out if the media wouldn’t make “a big deal out of it.”

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Tom Daley Is Perfection At World Championships

I know the world is a bit obsessed with the way out diver Tom Daley looks, but it’s great to be reminded what an incredible athlete he is.

From yesterday’s World Championships. Perfection.

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Absolute perfection from Tom Daley!The World Championships are LIVE on Eurosport and eurosportplayer.com
Posted by Eurosport on Thursday, July 30, 2015

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Out Australian Bobsledder Simon Dunn Named Attitude’s “Hottest Man In The World”

Openly gay Australian bobsledder, Simon Dunn – currently training for the 2016 Olympics in Calgary – has been named “Hottest Man In The World” for 2015 by Attitude Magazine.

The openly gay athlete is a brand new entry this year, usurping two-time champ Tom Daley at the top of poll – which is decided by your lovely selves and this year had the most votes ever. Check out the full top ten here.

Simon made headlines around the world last year after joining the Australian bobsleigh team – making him the world’s first openly gay man to do so. Speaking to Attitude recently, the former Sydney Convicts rugby union player rugby admitted he was ready to find a man, settle down and start a family, but that he’ll only be getting married when it’s legal to do so in his home country of Australia.

Reacting to his victory, Simon said: “It’s flattering enough to have been voted on to the HOT 100 at all but to think I have been voted number one and beat guys like Tom Daley and Liam Payne is beyond me! I’m absolutely convinced my mother had all her friends vote for me – thanks mum!”

Dunn appeared in Attitude Magazine’s Naked Issue earlier this year.

Here’s Attitude’s full top 10 list for 2015:

1. Simon Dunn
2. Channing Tatum
3. Liam Payne
4. Tom Daley
5. Chris Evans
6. Chris Pratt
7. Zac Efron
8. David Beckham
9. Stuart Reardon
10. Joe Lycett

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Italian Sports Magazine Features Kissing Gay Rugby Players

Italian magazine Sportweek is getting lots of attention this week by featuring a real-life gay rugby couple kissing on its cover.

The cover image, taken earlier this year at the Legends of Rugby event in Milan, is accompanied by the simple tag line: “Who’s Afraid of a Kiss?”

The couple featured on the cover, Giacomo and Stefano, are players for Free Rugby Roma, the first gay-friendly rugby team in Italy.

(h/t Towleroad)