I have been writing this year about gay high school athletes who have started blogs. They tend to feed off and inspire each other and provide a window into what it means to be a gay teenager in America. The latest is the Transpiration of Andrew, written by Andrew, a senior captain of his varsity [...]
Posts under ‘High school’
Coming out is liberating for 15-year-old high school volleyball player Galen Dodd
Editor’s note: At 15, Los Angeles volleyball player Galen Dodd is likely the youngest athlete who has ever told his coming out story for Outsports. He contacted us and had the full backing of his parents, who helped him edit the story. By Galen Dodd Three dates will forever be ingrained in my mind: July [...]
Gay Canadian teen was bullied because he preferred figure skating to hockey
There are really no words to convey the sadness over another suicide by a gay teenager, this time Jamie Hubley, 15, from Ottawa. He killed himself Saturday, overcome by depression from being bullied and harassed as the only openly gay student at his school. He was picked on because he preferred figure skating to ice [...]
My Life, Part 1: Greg Congdon shares his story of being closeted…and being outed
Editor’s Note: Greg Congdon was a high school football player and wrestler in rural Pennsylvania. He struggled with his sexual orientation for years until he was outed. It was such a touchstone in 1998 that it is our #83 most important moment in gay sports history. For the first time ever, Greg tells his story [...]
Male cheerleader kicked off Alice, Texas, team for kissing another boy
A male high school cheerleader in Alice, Texas, says he was kicked off his cheerleading team because he was “caught” kissing another boy on a surveillance video. See the video interview with the boy after the jump. From NBC: Student handbook prohibits discrimination Alice High School, a public school in South Texas, states in its student [...]
Moment #6: Corey Johnson’s story is told by Bay Windows and the New York Times
Part of Outsports’ series on our 100 most important moments in gay sports history. Football, 2000. OK, it’s is a bit of a cheat: This moment is really two moments that each elevated an important story in our history. In April 2000, New England-based Bay Windows printed the story of Masconomet (Mass.) High School football player [...]
High school swimmer writes a beautiful coming out letter to parents
Last week, I wrote about Sam, a Pennsylvania high school junior, who had started a blog to talk about his coming out process. I spoke with him Saturday and he said he planned on coming out to his sister in a few weeks and his parents by Christmas. After much reflection, Sam decided the time [...]
High school swimmer, 16, starts blog as part of coming out process
“Sam I Am” is a new blog written by Sam, a 16-year-old high school junior in Pennsylvania. In ninth grade he was on the school swim team, but he quit his sophomore season, feeling inadequate and lonely, which he chalks up to wrestling with his sexuality. Sam now intends to rejoin his swim team this [...]
Gay teenage hockey player fears for his safety if he is found out
Note: Bumped to the top of the blog since it has gotten an interesting dialogue going. We have written a lot celebrating how it has gotten better for many gay teenage athletes, profiling several this year with their heartwarming stories of acceptance. But this story out of Northumberland County in Ontario, Canada, reminds us that [...]
Outsports It Gets Better video: Emma Delsohn, high school basketball player
The next video in Outsports’ partnership with the It Gets Better Project comes from Emma Delsohn, who is starting her freshman year at Seattle University. Emma became known to Outsports readers this spring after she wrote a fantastic article on coming out as a high school basketball player at an all-girls Catholic school in Southern [...]
Moment #83: Greg Congdon outed
Part of Outsports’ series on our 100 most important moments in gay sports history. Football, 1998. Greg Congdon is a reluctant gay pioneer. Reluctant because he was outed when he was 17 and still playing high school football. But he has endured and hopes to become a forceful voice in the fight for gay equality [...]
Moment #89: Washington becomes first state to adopt high school trans athlete policy
Part of Outsports’ series on our 100 most important moments in gay sports history. Various sports, 2008. While the rights of transgender athletes to play sports has been fought over in courts and board rooms for nearly four decades, it wasn’t until April 2007 that any state high school sports association adopted any policy opening the [...]
Eric Anderson’s latest study shows increasing acceptance of gay athletes by teammates
Eric Anderson (aka Coach Gumby) has long been one of the world’s leading academics on gay-sports issues. Recently his research revealed an increasing trend of young straight men kissing one another. Now comes an update on his research into the treatment of gay athletes. Previously explored in 2002, Anderson has brought his analysis into 2010 [...]
27 sports people have already come out in 2011: athletes, journalists, coaches and execs
Updated: May 19, 2011 When Ross Forman of the Windy City Times asked me to come up with a list of all the people in sports who have come out publicly this year, I had no idea the number would eclipse two dozen. And still counting. From the two men who kicked off this year, [...]
MTV’s ‘Sexed and Confused’ looking for gay athletes to follow
MTV’s Sexed and Confused is looking for young gay athletes to profile and follow in their series about sex. Closeted athletes, out athletes, bisexual athletes, men, women, boys girls…they’re looking for you. Here’s more info: Do you ever feel like you don’t have it figured out when it comes to the birds and the bees? [...]