Aussie Basketball Player Isaac Humphries Comes Out As Gay In Heartwarming Announcement
In an announcement made on Wednesday, November 16, Melbourne United basketball player Isaac Humphries revealed he is gay. Humphries explains that he fell into a dark place where he grappled between how to be an athlete and a gay man and he feels he is finally ready to be himself, reports Fox News.
“I JUST WANT TO BE MYSELF”
For anyone, coming out is a difficult and deeply personal experience. No group of people know this better than professional athletes. Many LGBTQIA+ athletes at elite levels still feel the need to hide their sexuality. Humphries is the first Australian professional basketball player to come out.
There are expectations applied to being a top athlete and being gay is seemingly in opposition to those expectations. This is something Isaac Humphries reportedly struggled with for many years.
“I fell into a very dark place, a very lonely place. I couldn’t be who I am and I attempted to take my life,” says Humphries. “I was disgusted by myself.”
When Humphries addressed his team to tell them about his sexuality, he was visibly overwhelmed with emotion and gave pause a couple of times to gather himself.
“It wasn’t until I was in a community that’s full of pride and happiness and joy that I had a big wake up call,” he said. “Then came to the big question mark of how do I be a basketball player and how do I join a new team when I finally come to terms with this about myself and I don’t want to hide why any more?”
In coming out, Humphries hopes to inspire other athletes to embrace who their sexuality and come out. He says: “I decided, if I’m going to join a team that I’m going to come out publicly and just make sure the people know that you can live, and that you don’t have to hide, just because you’re an athlete. As athletes, as professional athletes, we have a responsibility to set examples for people. I want people to know that you can be gay and a basketball player and it has nothing to do with your sexuality or who you are or who you’re meant to be.”
