Gay rower watched ‘Brokeback Mounta’ and me out to parents next day - Outsports

Contents:

• GAY ATHLETE FOUND HIS NICHE AND HIS HBAND THROUGH ROWG
• GAY ROWER, NOW AT UNIVERSY OF ALABAMA, WATCHED ‘BROKEBACK MOUNTA’ AND ME OUT TO PARENTS NEXT DAY
• THIS GAY LLEGE ROWG ACH HAS HAD 9 ATHLET E OUT TO HIM

GAY ATHLETE FOUND HIS NICHE AND HIS HBAND THROUGH ROWG

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.

GAY ROWER, NOW AT UNIVERSY OF ALABAMA, WATCHED ‘BROKEBACK MOUNTA’ AND ME OUT TO PARENTS NEXT DAY

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. Still, I had never met an openly gay man or talked to anyone about HIV or AIDS.

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

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. Gay rower, now at Universy of Alabama, watched ‘Brokeback Mounta’ and me out to parents next day.