Melbourne, Australia: Isaac Humphries, a professional basketball player from Australia, has come out as gay, making him the only openly gay player in a top-tier basketball league. Humphries hopes other professional athletes will gain courage from his decision.
Humphries, who represented Kentucky from 2015 to 2017, is one of the few men to come out in public as gay while competing in one of the best basketball leagues in the world. NBA veteran Jason Collins was the first in 2013. Humphries admitted to his colleagues that he had gone through “extremely dark times” and kept his sexuality a secret from loved ones and even himself.
The basketball player stated that, “I believe it is time to make a change and set an example to the next generation that they can be anything they want while still being true to themselves. I want to demonstrate that you can be a professional athlete, be anything you want, and still be gay.”
It is a truth about myself that I have wanted to deny for a long time, but now I feel comfortable telling you all. That truth is that I am gay; I have been through extremely dark times during this journey, but I have been through so much growth and I am now happy with who I am.
Issac Humphries highlighted.
Melbourne United Chief Executive Mr. Nick Truelson remarked that the organization was proud of Humphries. Mr. Truelson expressed his view by stating that: “Today is an incredible step in Isaac’s journey, and we as a club are wholeheartedly supportive of him. Not only as a member of our club but as a person. This is a momentous occasion for him personally, but also for male sport on a global scale.”
— Isaac Humphries (@IsaacHumphries7) November 15, 2022
Humphries has received appreciation from Pride in Sport, an organization that assists Australian sports clubs and organizations in all aspects of LGBTQ inclusion.
Pride in Sports pointed out that, “Addressing his challenges in continuing to play the game not being his true self, but also the relief and joy he feels for doing so and being able to be a role model for younger athletes.”
Mr. Beau Newell, National Program Manager for the organization, also praised Humphries for his boldness.
Mr. Erik Denison of Behaviour Works Australia at Monash University, a behavior modification institute, commented that while it was encouraging to see Humphries’ team assist him, “they must do much more.”
“Basketball is not safe for gay and bisexual kids” – Academic Claimed After Basketball Professional Came Out Gay https://t.co/NrGIhTtiIP via @yourgaynation #GayNation @IsaacHumphries7 @erikdenison pic.twitter.com/v8Dv00dr56
— Gay Nation (@yourgaynation) November 16, 2022
Mr. Denison claimed that, “Basketball is not safe for gay and bisexual kids. We need basketball leaders to invest in strategies to stop harmful homophobic behaviors in their sport. These behaviors make athletes like Isaac feel unsafe and unwelcome. The video recorded by Isaac is heart-wrenching. Professional athletes should not feel they need to make a choice between taking their own lives, dropping out of the sport, or coming out to their teammates.”