University of Massachusetts guard Derrick Gordon joins the list of athletes who have come out in sports in the since 2013.
Last April, Brooklyn Nets center Jason Collins became the first active professional athlete to announce he was openly gay. Then Missouri defensive end Michael Sam came out in February three months before his potential selection in the 2014 NFL draft.
And now CelebNMusic247.com has learned that University of Massachusetts guard Derrick Gordon has became the first openly gay active Division I men’s basketball player.
Another barrier has been broken. Another division in sports, yet we expect more athletes to follow. Derrick opened up to tell his story on OutSports just a week after coming out to his coaches and teammates (April 9).
Feeling isolation and wantind to quit basketball alltogether, Gordon reveals how he initially denied he was gay to his teammates after they teased him about a photo his ex-boyfriend posted Instagram.
Gordon will now have to return to his existing team rather than joining a new one after publicly coming out. Having just finished his redshirt sophomore year, where he averaged 9.4 points and 3.5 rebounds, he’ll be the team’s second-leading scorer among returning players.
Gordon says:
“People think gay men are soft.”
“I’m not. Especially my background growing up, I was never a soft kid and I’ll never be a soft kid.”
He took to social media to announce that he is gay:
I am the first Division 1 male basketball player to come out and not the last. I AM gay. I’m not afraid. I’m not alone.
— Derrick Gordon (@DerrickGordon02) April 9, 2014
He added:
“This is the happiest I have ever been in my 22 Years of living…No more HIDING!!!…Just want to live life happy and play the sport that I love…Really would love to thank my family, friends, coaches, and teammates for supporting me….I would also like to thank my support team Wade Davis, Jason Collins, Brian Sims, Micah Porter, Anthony Nicodemo, Patrick Burke,Billy Bean, Gerald McCullough, Kirk Walker…You guys are AWESOME!!! Ready to get back in the gym with my teammates and get on the GRIND and get ready for next season!!!! #BETRUE #BEYOURSELF #HONEYBADGER”
“Thank you everybody for all the support so far!!!! #BETRUE”
#CelebsAreCoolRight
We support Derrick Gordon.
