Sunday Funnies ... The Rest

Nate Alfson Comes Out ... Chip Sarafin, Too

You all know I am not a fan of the Catholic Church, and that, normally, when I write about them I tend to go all F-bombing, rant-spewing snark-nado on their asses. But today is different. Today, I’m feeling a little … a little … pleased with the Catholics, or, at least, a small group of Catholics.

See, out there to South Dakota, in a town called Dell Rapids, Nate Alfson was the high school, baseball and volleyball coach. He is also gay; and he publicly came out as gay in an interview with Outsports last week.

Nate was worried about his job, so he took a meeting with the school — St. Mary’s High School — and they basically said, ‘Meh.’

“The meeting with the school went great .We talked about being on the same page as each other and that they were willing to walk through this with me and support me. … I couldn't be happier that they are supportive and want me to be a part of the coaching team. It's a sense of relief to be able to move forward and focus on volleyball and the girls. This season is about them and the hard work they put in. The support has been amazing and I can't wait to live a free life!” — Nate Alfson

A gay coach … at a Catholic school … in South Dakota … a state that does not have any workplace protections for LGBT people … and it’s no big deal.
Still, it does deserve mentioning, and it does deserve, from HOMO HQ, a copy of The Gay Agenda, for Nate, as well as the Obligatory Coming Out Toaster Oven.
Welcome out, Nate, welcome out.

And, as a sidenote to the Catholic Church, the part that might have a problem with Nate Alfson, "Carry on, folks, nothing to see here."

As it should be.

via The Advocate
Read Nates story on Outsports

Chip Sarafin, a non-scholarship offensive lineman for the Arizona State football, has come out publicly as gay in an article for Compete magazine. Sarafin, who has yet to play in a game with the Sun Devils, is believed to be the first active major-college football player to come out publicly.

"It was really personal to me, and it benefited my peace of mind greatly."--Chip Sarafin, on coming out to his teammates

Of note, is that it was the university who offered the story of Sarafin’s coming out to Compete journalist Joshua Wyrick.

"He likes to talk a lot more about his profession than his sexuality, of course [but] he really wants to make sports better from a safety standpoint and from an acceptance one, too."

And when the story broke last week, the ASU athletic department, and football coach, Todd Graham released a statement:

"We are a brotherhood that is not defined by cultural and personal differences, but rather an individual's commitment to the Sun Devil Way. Chip is a fifth-year senior and a Scholar Baller, a graduate and a master's student. His commitment to service is unmatched and it is clear he is on his way to leading a successful life after his playing career, a goal that I have for every student-athlete. Diversity and acceptance are two of the pillars of our program, and he has full support from his teammates and the coaching staff."

Man, the times are a’changing, aren’t they?

So, welcome out, Chip, and please accept as our gift, a copy of The Gay Agenda and the Obligatory Coming Out Toaster Oven.

Welcome out, and blaze that trail.

via AZ Central

Read Chip's story at Compete

Michael Sam Receives the Arthur Ashe Courage Award

Michael Sam, the NFLs first openly gay player, and a St. Louis Ram, received the Arthur Ashe Courage Award at last nights ESPYs. I was looking to include some of it in this morning’s I Didn’t Say it … but it was impossible to pick one quote.

So here’s the whole thing, and it’s amazing ….

The Arthur Ashe Courage Award is a big honor. Much bigger than just me. This year I've had a lot of experience being part of something bigger than myself. At times, I've felt like I've been living in a massive storm, without knowing when the storm will end. I'm here tonight to tell you the lessons I learned about love, respect, being true to yourself will never leave me.

"The late, great Arthur Ashe wasn't just courageous. He was brilliant, too. In fact, he once put all the wisdom in the world in three short sentences: 'Start where you are, use what you have, do what you can.' Those are words to live by, whether you're black or white, young or old, straight or gay. So let me tell you why these words mean so much to me, like this award does.

First, start where you are. Like a lot of us, I didn't start on top. That only drove me to get somewhere better. I was lucky to have great father figures like Ronnie Purl, my mentor and best friend. And great coaches like Gary Pinkel and Craig Smith, who knew my story and did everything possible to give it a better ending.

Next, use what you have. What I have is the privilege to play a game that I love with all my heart. Football raised me. Football taught me about hard work, about discipline and about teamwork. But whatever passion or talent you have, follow it. I followed mine, and it got me all the way to this stage tonight, so I can look out and see so many of my heroes looking back at me.

Finally, Arthur Ashe said, 'Do what you can.' Those have been very meaningful words to me. The way I see it, my responsibility at this moment in history is to stand up for everybody out there who wants nothing more than to be themselves openly. Recently, a friend asked me to talk to his sister, a young woman who was considering killing herself rather than accepting and sharing with her loved ones the fact that she's gay. When we spoke, she told me she would never consider hurting herself and that somehow my example helped her. It's amazing to think that, by just doing what we can, we can all touch, change and even save lives.

I want to take a moment to just thank some of my friends who have helped me. Cameron Weiss and Joe Barkett, young guys who took a chance on me, just like I took a chance on them. And Ken Sunshine. Ronnie and Candy Purl, who have done so much to help me get here. My entire Mizzou family for all the support you've given me. You will always be home. And to the Rams organiztion -- Stan Kroenke, Les Snead, Fisher and my teammates. To my mother, a single mother who somehow raised eight kids, I love you dearly.

Last but not least, Vito. People tell me that I'm their inspiration. You are my inspiration.

Standing here tonight looking out at all these legends who have already achieved so much is one of the thrills of my life. I promise to spend the rest of my life trying my best to live up to this honor and become the best football player I can.

And finally, to anyone out there -- especially young people -- feeling like they don't fit in and will never be accepted, please know this: great things can happen when you have the courage to be yourself.

Thank you and God bless.

Ian Thorpe Comes Out

"I've thought about this for a long time. I'm not straight. Um, and this is only something that only very recently — we’re talking in the last two weeks — I’ve felt comfortable telling the closest people around me. Exactly that."

And with that, after years of speculation, rumor, questions, guesses, dreams, Olympic swimmer Ian Thorpe came out as gay.

And I say, Good for him. Some people were annoyed that he’d spent years denying his sexual orientation, going so far as to write quite plainly in a memoir, ‘I am not gay,’ but we should not judge when people come out, how they come out, or how long it takes. It’s a personal journey that, while it may have the same destination, is a completely different path for each of us.

"I'm comfortable saying I'm a gay man. And I don't want people to feel the same way I did. You can grow up, you can be comfortable and you can be gay."

That’s all that need be said. He’s battled the gossip, he’s battled the speculation, he’s battled depression, all of which make coming out more difficult, but one thing he has, that a lot of gay folks don’t have, no matter when they say the words, is support, from family, friends, and, especially, the LGBT community.

"I was concerned about the reaction from my family, my friends. I'm pleased to say that in telling them, and especially my parents, they told me that they love me and they support me. And for young people out there, know that that's usually what the answer is."

I read on Facebook, where some folks called it a brave step — and coming out, again, no matter who you are or when you do it, is a brave step — that others were annoyed that Ian hadn’t been truthful in the past. But again, walk in his shoes, live his life, battle his demons, and then tell me it wasn’t brave.

"What happened was, I felt that the lie had become so big that I didn't want people to question my integrity and a little bit of ego comes into this. I didn't want people to think that I had lied about everything."

Again, it’s done, and you can say “Finally,” or you can simply say, “Welcome out.” What you cannot, or should not, is denigrate him for not coming out sooner. It's his journey and all we should do as a community is be thankful and grateful and welcoming.

And offer up a copy of The Gay Agenda and the Obligatory Coming Out Toaster Oven and the thought that now, finally, Ian Thorpe can take a breath and finally be himself.

And that’s the bravest thing of all.

Welcome out, Ian, welcome out. 

Read the full transcript of the interview HERE.

Brad Thorson Comes Out

We just celebrated July Fourth … Independence Day … a day to declare independence, freedom. And I cannot think of a better day, or a better way, to declare your freedom than by coming out, which is what Brad Thorson — a former college football player and former player for the Arizona Cardinals — did on his blog in a post titled Seeing Though the Fog:

I've been told many times that the process of coming out is cathartic. Yet since coming to terms with my sexuality, I found it arduous and unnecessary. At least that's what I kept telling myself. So today, I'm putting it in writing and not looking back.

I'm gay.

I'm also an athlete. For years, I struggled to unite these two identities in my own mind. Not until after my professional athletic career came to an end did I allow myself to understand my sexuality. Now, three years later, I'm finally ready to share that with people.

No need to look back, Brad, because now that you’ve told the world you are gay you are finally free, finally, independent, and finally ready to face what lies ahead for you.

Perhaps another shot at the NFL?

Whatever it is, know that you can now do it openly and honestly, as yourself, and that you can carry with you a copy of The Gay Agenda and the Obligatory Coming Out Toaster Oven as our gift to you from HOMO HQ.

Welcome out, Brad, welcome out!

via OutSports