Boyfriends Anthony Bowens and Michael Pavano Talk About Coming Out






For whatever reason, professional athletes in men’s big-time pro sports simply aren’t coming out.

We can point to religion, family, teammates, fans, coaches, the media and many other issues as the reason. But the reason at this point is increasingly irrelevant. They simply aren’t coming out.

Years ago I felt like I was waiting for that day I’d wake up to news of another out gay athlete. Now it never crosses my mind. Gay male pro athletes aren’t coming out. They simply aren’t. “Waiting” for them to do so is fruitless at best.

 At the same time, incredibly courageous athletes in high school and college are coming out across the country and in every sport. They are coming out publicly and privately to their teammates. They are changing the face of sports.

The worst thing we could possibly do is make an athlete feel like he was forced to come out before he was ready. The first questions I always have for athletes interested in coming out is about support structure and readiness. It’s not enough to “wait” for a gay athlete to come out, it’s important that they have a support structure around them.

Until that happens for each individual athlete, we will support those who are “ready” to come out. And until the NBA has a fraction of the out athletes as the WNBA, I simply won’t be “waiting” for the next one. They will come out publicly when they are ready, and there’s little anyone can do to hasten that process.

Outsports 


Comments