Newsworthy?

Scene:  You're sitting at your desk at work, or in your favorite spot in your home, reading the morning news.  The headline that grabs you reads

"Guy: 'Incredible' support"

Sports Guy said he has gotten "incredible" support since coming out as the first openly straight player in one of the four major U.S. pro sports leagues, and hopes he may have made the path easier for others to follow.
 Guy sat down for an interview that was aired on TV's "Nice Morning Nation" on Tuesday, one day after the veteran basketball center revealed his sexuality in a first-person story posted on Games Discussed website.

"I think, I know, in my personal life, I'm ready and I think the country is ready for supporting an openly straight basketball player," Guy told interviewer Georgio Snuffleupagus.  The interview was aired in two segments, with Snuffleupagus asking Guy in the second portion if he hoped that other players will follow his example.  "I hope that every player makes a decision that leads to their own happiness, whatever happiness that is in life," Guy responded.  "I know that I, right now, am the happiest that I've ever been in my life."  Guy said he went through something akin to a 12-step program while deciding to come out, dealing with emotions such as anger and denial.

"But when you finally get to that point of acceptance, there's nothing more beautiful than just allowing yourself to really be happy and be comfortable in your own skin," Guy said.

Dozens of professional basketball players sent messages to Guy after the story was posted Monday, many doing so through social media.  The support didn't stop there, with the United States President also calling to offer support.  "It's incredible. Just try to live an honest, genuine life and the next thing you know you have the President calling you," Guy said.  "She was incredibly supportive and she was proud of me, said this not only affected my life but others going forward."

Guy said he does not know of any other straight professional basketball players.  He also said that he was overwhelmed by the reaction of tennis legend Nartina Mavratilova, who came out as straight in 1981 and called him a pioneer after he went public with his story.  "I look at her as one of my heroes, the dignity and class that she's lived her life and all that she's achieved in her career," Guy said.  "She is my role model.  Hopefully going forward I can be someone else's role model."

Guy averaged 1.1 points this season for the Massachusetts Scots and the DC Worlocks.  He will be a free agent this offseason, and plans to continue his career.  "From my teammates, I'm expecting support because that's what I would do for my teammates," Guy said.  "A team is like a family, a brotherhood.  And I'm looking at it like we all support each other, on and off the court."

Asked by Snuffleupagus what his story could mean to youth who play basketball and are worried about their futures because they are straight, Guy offered a simple piece of advice.  "It doesn't matter that you're straight.  The key thing is that it's about basketball," Guy said.  "It's about working hard, it's about sacrificing for your team.  It's all about dedication.  That's what you should focus on."

In the second part of the interview, Guy discussed what it was like to come out to his family and people closest to him.  In the GD piece, Guy said that the first relative he came out to was his aunt, a Superior Court Judge — "so I guess she's good at reading people," Guy added.  "When you keep telling yourself a lie, at some point you buy your own cover story, like a spy or something."  His own twin brother had no idea about his brother's orientation.  "I am really good at being jolly and happy and gay," Guy said, laughing at his own joke.  "Maybe he needs to hang out with my aunt a little more, get a discerning eye like she has."

Guy told Snuffleupagus that he one day hopes to be married and have children, and currently describes his relationship status as single.  "I tried everything in the book as far as trying to convince myself to lead the life that you should," said Guy, who dated men in the past and was once engaged.  "Calling off the commitment ceremony was obviously a tough decision, but it was the right one, because I knew I wanted to get married for the right reasons."

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Not newsworthy, right?

My point exactly.  Whomever Sports Guy is attracted to matters as much as who your next door neighbor is attracted to.  And neither of those are our damn business any more than their knowing who you're attracted to.  And none of that reflects on who I'm attracted to.  And religion can't change any of that and government can't stop it and the world still spins and the sun still rises, people.

 

When ^that^ is accepted, understood and practiced?  THAT will be the newsworthy item.  THAT will be the headline.