Gay athlete found his sports niche and his hband through rowg - Outsports

Contents:

• GAY ATHLETE FOUND HIS NICHE AND HIS HBAND THROUGH ROWG
• THIS GAY LLEGE ROWG ACH HAS HAD 9 ATHLET E OUT TO HIM

GAY ATHLETE FOUND HIS NICHE AND HIS HBAND THROUGH ROWG

The Gay + Lbian Rowg Feratn is a worldwi onle, clive muny for lgbtq+ outdoor and door rowers, xi, ach, and race officials. I have a much different life than what I thought was possible for growg up whout any gay fluenc or role mols. And sce I didn’t have a lot of iends growg up, I assumed that much of what was available did not apply to me bee I am gay.

To this day I am still cur why was important to announce to strangers I was gay when walkg to a classroom, a locker room or a dg room. Whout knowg a sgle thg about beg gay and never havg met an openly gay man, I feared beg gay om as long as I n remember.

My experienc told me that was bad to be gay. By the time I graduated llege, HIV transmissn had h s height wh the gay muny.

THIS GAY LLEGE ROWG ACH HAS HAD 9 ATHLET E OUT TO HIM

Still, I had never met an openly gay man or talked to anyone about HIV or AIDS. If I was gay, then the thought of sex translated to a ath sentence. And if I was gay, I knew I uld blend and hi my achievements.

We all took re of each other, looked out for one other, and supported each other ways I thought were not for me bee I was gay. And was then when I first sheepishly showed up at gay night club on a random Saturday night and danced all night the middle of the dance floor wh my ey closed.

As a new gay man, I uld not draw om the same experienc nor make the same jok and still protect my inty.