Outsports publishes inspiring coming out letter from a young athlete

Here is a letter published by Outsports from Brad, a high school track athlete from the US. We encourage you to read the full post on Outsports to learn more about the context of this letter and future plans (besides our applause, we feel compelled to add that you can wear sparkles and be an athlete):


Dear Mom and Dad,

My life has drastically changed since the new decade has started. Now that it is the end of the year I feel that it is time to fill you on with what has happened. On January 3, 2010 I told [a friend] I was gay. In June I told [another friend] I was gay. At ASB camp I told my group I was gay. In early December I told [another friend] I was gay. Last week I told [another friend] that I was gay. Now it is time to tell you guys I am gay.

I am not one of those stereotypical gays that you see on television that wear sparkles and make-up. I am me, Brad. I will still be exactly the same because I don’t think that being gay should change anything about you besides who you want to spend the rest of your life with.

I will always do sports and I am excited for the track season this year as well as being captain for cross country next year. I will never let being gay stop me from doing what I want to do. I still want to run cross country and track at a Division 1 college even though openly gay people are very rare to find in that competitive of a league.

I don’t know how the rest of the world will take this news, but I am rather sure most of my friends already know thanks to people telling each other. Instead of seeing this spread of gossip as a bad thing, I see it as reassurance in letting me know that my friends are my friends and they will never abandon me for some stupid reason such as this. My sports teams may take a little longer to come along but as some people have said, locker rooms may be homophobic but if you are a key person in winning then they will accept you, and yes I would say I am a key person in winning meets.

You ask why now? Well I am just done hiding who I truly am because of fear. Who will change people’s perceptions of gay people in sports for the younger generations if no one comes out and proves people wrong? I am ready to be me.

I love you guys and I know this would never affect anything between us. If anything I know it will strengthen our bond that we all share together. I don’t want you guys to worry about me in this process because I am a strong person and having amazing people all around me who will be by my side. I wrote this note to you instead of just telling you because I thought it would be awkward to bring up.

Love,
Brad