 |
I didn’t know they played American football in other countries, but I know now because in Sweden American football is very popular, and one of its stars, twenty-two-year-old Marcus Juhlin, has come out as gay.
“I was inspired by Michael Sam.” — Marcus Juhlin
And yet he says he also did it for all boys and girls who feel that they don't belong or fit in, and he hopes that his coming out can help and inspire other people by taking this brave step. And if the reaction from his team is any example, he’s made a bold step. In fact, Juhlin’s team — the Carlstad Crusaders — and other teams in the league, have all announced support for Marcus and his decision to come out.
Juhlin came out to his mother two years ago on New Year's Eve, calling her a few hours after midnight saying, "I like guys."
Simple as that.
So, welcome out Marcus, and here’s hoping you inspire others the same way Michael Sam did for you. And please accept as our Coming Out Gift from HOMO HQ, the obligatory coming Out Toaster Oven — complete with a European adapter plug — and copy of the Gay Agenda.
Welcome out, Marcus, welcome out.
|
 |
Mitch Eby, a Junior and defensive end for the Chapman University Football team, had a secret to tell and wasn’t sure how. Then he read about Willamette University kicker Conner Mertens, who came out as gay last January and the two began talking.
At first Eby, who was only out to one person, and Mertens talked football, but the conversation eventually turned to coming out, and Eby talked about his fears; and he listened as Conner Mertens told about his own coming out to his team, in which a teammate read a letter from Mertens without him being present. But Mitch Eby wanted to tell his team himself, though he first told his head coach, and his roommates, who were also teammates, and then he told the team:
“I am ready to share with you all that I am gay. … It has taken me years to accept myself for who I truly am, so it's irrational to expect everybody to unconditionally accept me right away. However, the one thing that I hope that I can count on from each of you, my teammates, is your respect. Your respect as a friend, your respect as a teammate, and your respect as a man. "Being gay may be something that defines me, but it does not limit me. It is such a small part of who I am. I am the same person you all know, no different than before. I'm still the kid that is obsessed with pretty much anything having to do with sports, I'm still the kid that some of you love to call stupid nicknames like ‘mom' and ‘hot dog,' and I'm still someone who will continue to go out there every day and push myself and push my teammates to be the best football team around. I am your teammate, I am your classmate and I am your brother. And I know that my brothers will continue to stand by my side, no matter what."
By the time he finished the team was applauding his coming out, and so as the racket died down, Mitch Eby asked one more question:
"So how about some pizza?"
Which, as we all know, can be reheated in a Coming Out Toaster Oven, been in a college dorm, while sitting down to read The Gay Agenda.
Welcome out, Mitch, welcome out.
|
Bless them.
ReplyDeleteLove it!
ReplyDelete