Pro US Soccer Player Collin Martin Comes Out [VIDEO]

June 29, 2018 LGBT News, Sports

The Minneapolis Star-Tribune reports:

Minnesota United midfielder Collin Martin publicly came out as gay in a social media statement Friday morning, making him the only out athlete currently playing in one of the five major men’s U.S. sports leagues. Martin, 23, is the first male athlete from any of those major leagues to say he is gay since 2014, when Michael Sam came out ahead of the NFL draft. Martin is believed to be the first male athlete from a pro Minnesota team to come out publicly during his career.

“I never thought that was completely important because I thought it’d been done before,” Martin said. “But, I mean, you look around, there’s still not an out professional athlete in the five major sports in America … right now. So it’s still important.”

Robbie Rogers, a former LA Galaxy and U.S. national team winger/defender, was the first openly gay man to compete in one of the top-five leagues after he came out in February 2013. Rogers retired at the end of 2017 after missing the whole season with injuries. Rogers tweeted his support after Martin’s statement.

From his tweet:



“I have been out as a gay man for many years to my family and friends, and this includes my teammates. I have played Major League Soccer for 6 seasons: 4 seasons with DC United and 2 seasons with Minnesota United. Today, I’m proud that my entire team and the management of Minnesota United know that I am gay. I have received only kindness and acceptance from everyone in Major League Soccer and that has made the decision to come out publicly that much easier.”


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