When Your Closet Is a Locker Room

Image:  Facebook

How about some good news for a change? Good gay news at that. I might even charge you for the dopamine hit.

After being inspired by the smash HBO Max series "Heated Rivalry" about male hockey rivals-turned-lovers, actual hockey player Jesse Korteum came out. He wrote on Facebook earlier this month of growing up the youngest of four boys in hockey-crazed Minnesota. "I loved the game, but I lived with a persistent fear. I wondered how I could be gay and still play such a tough and masculine sport," wrote Korteum.

Tough and masculine. Yes, I assume his dance card will be full in gay bars from Mankato to Manitoba.

Australian former pro basketball player AJ Ogilvy also came out recently in a video chat. The guy he was chatting with, Isaac Humphries, came out as gay while playing in the Australian league in 2022, and Ogilvy credited Humphries with giving him the courage, saying it was "hugely beneficial to have someone of your stature and attitude be able to step forward and say this is who you are."

Fans noted "Heated Rivalry" may've also had something to do with Ogilvy's revelation. What we know for sure is media representation matters, and individual athletes coming out matters.

I'm feeling greedy, so I hope at next month's Winter Olympics we'll be treated to more male athletes coming out. Flamboyant American former figure skater Johnny Weir will be in Milan to commentate on skating, but perhaps he could have a side hustle:  "Oh, yesterday a Canadian bobsledder came out, and today it's a Dutch speed skater! I'm not allowed to mention how good they both look in Lycra, so I'll just say they can go for my gold anytime!"