Wednesday, May 18, 2011

Welcome Out, Will Sheridan

Will Sheridan was a basketball star at Villanova.

He's also a musician, with a video--"Welcome to the Jungle"--that has gone mini-viral on YouTube.

And he's gay.

This week, Will Sheridan has chosen to follow CEO of the Phoenix Suns, Rick Welts and CNN's Don lemon out of the closet. Will made his announcement during an interview on ESPN, saying: “I'm kind of over it. Everyone close to me knows. Everyone who matters to me knows. I'm at a point where someone else can learn from my experience.”

And maybe a couple of those who can learn something about Will Sheridan, are his parents. His mother, Josie, says, "Devastated. I was devastated. I mean, I was disappointed. Not in him, but in things that were taken away – not having a daughter-in-law, grandchildren, things like that.”

Josie, maybe one day you'll have a son-in-law, and you can also have grandchildren. And she does say that she's proud of Will: “I've always been so proud of him, but he has such courage. This takes courage.”

Will Sr., a religious man, however, did not speak to his son for over a year. “I don't use the word 'tolerate.' I 'appreciate.' I appreciate that this is who he is, and I believe this is who God wants him to be. [But] I treat him like he ain't [gay]. I believe one day he's going to change. He says he's not, but I believe he will. A man has to have some kind of belief and hope.”

Will Sheridan has changed. He's become open to himself, accepting of himself, understanding of himself.

He doesn't need to change. Society and his father need to change.

And they will. They will.

Welcome out, Will. Your Coming Out Toaster Oven and copy of The Gay Agenda should arrive any day now.

source

5 comments:

  1. Perhaps You & me & Will Jr. can believe and hope that one day Will Sr. will change...

    Many Gutsy men this week, Huh?

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  2. this is a great story! since I don't follow a lick of sports, I would've missed it.

    thanks!

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  3. Bob, our community family is getting bigger. Such a great week on this front.

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  4. He is soooo hunktacular!
    Will, call me! ::winks::

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