“I Have A Girlfriend And Don’t Want To Lose My Friends” And Other Confessions From Gay Athletes

What’s it like to be gay in sports? Well, better than it used to be — that’s for sure.

Related: Jason Collins Is Standing On The Shoulders Of 8 Out Pro Team Sports Athletes

Related: Two Gay Teen Athletes Share High School Prom Pics, Melt Hearts

But “better” doesn’t necessarily mean “good.”

Below, hear from more guys on Whisper who are dealing with being gay in the still largely homophobic arena that is team sports:

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Stephen Amell Says a Fan Tried to Bait Him into Outing Colton Haynes

Stephen Amell spoke with E!’s Marc Malkin on Friday and they talked about Amell’s former Arrow co-star Colton Haynes coming out as gay. Amell said he’s very happy that Haynes is living his truth finally.

RELATED: Colton Haynes Confirms He’s Gay — Officially.

Amell also said that a fan once tried to trick him into outing Haynes:

“I’m so happy for Colton. A fan three or four months ago at a Comic-Con convention basically tried to bait me into outing him. I got in touch with [Colton] and was like, ‘Hey, man, this happened [and] I didn’t know what to say. I simply deflected and we moved on.’…He emailed me back and said, ‘You know, I really appreciate that and I’ve recently made some decisions over the past few months and I’m excited about what’s in the future.’ I’m excited for him, too.”

Haynes told EW earlier this month that he needed to do it on his own time:

“I should have made a comment or a statement, but I just wasn’t ready. I didn’t feel like I owed anyone anything. I think in due time, everyone has to make those decisions when they’re ready, and I wasn’t yet. But I felt like I was letting people down by not coming forward with the rest of what I should have said.”

Watch Malkin’s interview with Amell here.

The post Stephen Amell Says a Fan Tried to Bait Him into Outing Colton Haynes appeared first on Towleroad.

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At Graduation, VP Joe Biden Salutes Gay West Point Class President EJ Coleman for His Courage

Vice President Joe Biden spoke at West Point’s graduation ceremony yesterday at Michie Stadium at the military academy, and gave special recognition to class president First Captain Eugene ‘EJ’ Coleman, an openly gay cadet.

ABC News reports:

Before the repeal of the military’s “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy in 2010, “E.J. would have been discharged from the Army, and we would have lost an incredible talent,” he said. “Thanks for your courage, E.J., and I expect we’re going to hear big things from you, pal.”

The New York Daily News adds:

Vice President Biden told the U.S. Military Academy’s class of 2016 on Saturday that greater diversity, including more women and openly gay soldiers, will strengthen the country’s armed forces.

“Having men and women together in the battlefield is an incredible asset, particularly when they’re asked to lead teams in parts of the world with fundamentally different expectations and norms,” Biden said in his speech at a graduation ceremony at Michie Stadium on the West Point grounds along the Hudson River.

#USMA2016 commencement speaker, @VP Joe Biden, addresses the Corps of Cadets. pic.twitter.com/K0EkuPFP6b

— US Military Academy (@WestPoint_USMA) May 21, 2016

Biden’s remarks:

The post At Graduation, VP Joe Biden Salutes Gay West Point Class President EJ Coleman for His Courage appeared first on Towleroad.

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One Year of Marriage Equality in Ireland

One year ago today, 62 percent of Irish voters voted ‘yes’ in the first-ever national referendum for marriage equality in the world. Ireland was the 18th country to decide to afford same-sex couples full marriage rights.  

The referendum asked voters to approve language that updates Ireland’s constitution to state, “Marriage may be contracted in accordance with the law by two persons without distinction as to their sex.” Through an unprecedented voter registration campaign and voter mobilization effort by the Irish LGBT community, including the Yes Equality campaign, voters voted overwhelming for equality.

President of Ireland Michael Higgins signed the bill into law on August 25 and marriages began on November 16.

Director of HRC Global, Ty Cobb, was on the ground in Ireland with YouTube star Raymond Braun when the referendum passed.

While we celebrate this marriage equality victory, HRC recognizes the struggle of LGBT people around the world and we will continue to leverage our resources and experiences to advance the global equality movement.

www.hrc.org/blog/one-year-of-marriage-equality-in-ireland?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss-feed

Men Surround, Attack Trans Woman in Brooklyn

Exiting the subway in Park Slope, a woman is ambushed and beaten by five men.

www.advocate.com/crime/2016/5/21/men-surround-attack-trans-woman-brooklyn