Part of Outsports’ series on our 100 most important moments in gay sports history.
Football, 1992. There have only been three openly gay NFL players and most people can name two, Dave Kopay and Esera Tuaolo. There is a third, former Redskins and Giants offensive lineman Roy Simmons. But his story is less well-known. After coming out on the “Phil Donahue Show” in 1992, Simmons did no media for 11 years.
Simmons has had a rough life — he is HIV-positive, abused drugs and alcohol and once almost jumped off the Golden Gate Bridge. He also once told Pat Robertson that he has found God.
He wrote a book in 2006 where he told of sex parties, gin and Quaalude binges, copious amounts of cocaine, dressing in drag, and being a prostitute for $15 to $20 a pop.
“I guess I wasn’t really your average stoned-out crackhead,” Simmons writes. “In fairness to myself, most crackheads can’t say they ever played professional football. They can’t say they played in a Super Bowl, can’t say they were ever picked in an NFL draft or did battle with the Pittsburgh Steelers’ defensive line in front of 75,000 screaming fans. They can’t say they’ve been on national television, under bright lights, playing tag with the big men, making huge salaries and working out endorsement deals with international sportswear companies. I had my up time. The average crackhead knows nothing but down. I had my up time and I chose to do nothing with it. I let it slip away like I’d let of everything else in my life. My fiancée. My child. My family. Myself.”
Simmons has always been elusive and I am not sure what he is doing these days. Any updates appreciated.
For more information:
- Roy Simmons breaks his silence
- Roy Simmons interviewed by Howard Stern, tells who he would “kill, f— and marry”
on Jan 18th, 2012 at 6:42 AM
Last spoke to mr simmons 07/18/2012 called budget car rentals to rent a car…Asked Mr.Simmons knot knowing he played nfl football who he would choose out of San Francisco N.Y.G he of course choosed N.Y.G. than he finally stated he was in ex NFL player for GIANTS when always in laughter and joking around booked the car looked him up and sure enough found the ex player lol…Never new about his past but what ever the case he spoke the truth on the last comments he put on Donahue show keep pushing Mr. Simmons
on Feb 23rd, 2012 at 7:55 PM
roy im still waiting for your call my # is 347 326 5791 looking to hear from u.