UMass Guard Comes Out As Gay In First For NCAA Division I Basketball

[DonViejo]

Last edited Wed Apr 9, 2014, 12:27 PM - Edit history (1)

Source: TPM

CATHERINE THOMPSON – APRIL 9, 2014, 10:43 AM EDT

A University of Massachusetts sophomore came out as gay Wednesday to ESPN, a first for NCAA Division I men's basketball.

Derrick Gordon, a 22-year-old starting guard, said he wanted to acknowledge his sexuality publicly after he came out to his family, coaches and teammates at the beginning of April.

"I just didn't want to hide anymore, in any way," he told ESPN. "I didn't want to have to lie or sneak. I've been waiting and watching for the last few months, wondering when a Division I player would come out, and finally I just said, 'Why not me?'"

Gordon follows the lead of Michael Sam, the All-American University of Missouri football player who came out as gay earlier this year and could soon become the National Football League's first openly gay player, and Jason Collins, the first openly gay player in the NBA.

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Read more: http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/umass-basketball-player-derrick-gordon-comes-out-as-gay

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[AngryAmish]

1. Maybe someday a women's basketball player will come out as a lesbian...

[alp227]

2. Already happened

Brittney Griner.

[AngryAmish]

4. She is kinda a different case.

Anyway Sheryl Swoopes was a lesbian for a while but dropped it. There have been many lesbian basketball players. I was making a joke.

[OKNancy]

3. saw his interview with Andrea Mitchell

He is such a nice young man. Andrea was really good too. She praised him as a role model for young people.

[zonkers]

5. How the hell do you perform at a high level while trying to stay in the closet. I

cannot imagine it. Bet his game improves.

[1StrongBlackMan]

6. Along with the number of "hard fouls" ...

committed against him.

He probably should spend the off-season working on his free throws.