Another First

Derrick Gordon, a guard at the University of Massachusetts, came out today as the first openly gay basketball player in college’s Division I (that’s the best division). Read the article and look at the picture and try not to get a little choked up.

The story is becoming familiar: athlete comes out to supportive coach and team, then to the world. It’s not surprising that the young are leading the way on this one: they are way more happy with who they are, more likely to question “the way it’s always been done.” They will go into the professional leagues with their future teammates and coaches knowing who they are, with no questions about them and, as Gordon says on Instagram, “No more HIDING!!!”

Go look at that smile again. It made my day.