Bryant University assistant basketball coach Chris Burns has revealed he’s gay in a first-person essay published on Outsports. This officially makes Burns the first Division One men’s college basketball coach to ever publicly come out.
USA Today Sports reports that Burns announced the news to his team several weeks back, telling them, “There are parts of this business that lead me to believe what I’m about to tell you is not acceptable here… This is something I struggle with. It’s made me think I’m not supposed to be here… I’m a gay man.”
Senior forward Curtis Oakley told USA Today Sports, “There was an initial shock factor, but everyone was like ‘Yo, Burns, we rockin’ with you. It was all love.”
Duke coach Mike Krzyzeweski said, “One act of courage produces another. When I think of this, I think of tossing a big stone into a lake or a pond. The ripples he’s creating are huge. To me, it’s a huge step in the right direction for our sport because it can allow others who don’t feel like they can be who they are to do the same.”
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Burns writes in the Outsports essay:
Since I started telling people in college basketball over the last few months, I’ve realized my fears were far worse than reality. I’ve realized that people, for the most part, are human beings first. For a guy who’s relatively cynical and can be negative, the reactions of people in my sport and in my life have shut me right up and reenergized my hope in the human spirit, in empathy….
Like the people before me, I hope my story empowers someone, even if it’s just one person. But it’s a process for everyone.
My advice: Take your time and be comfortable. Everyone’s personal journey is special and unique, and no one should feel pressure to do anything they aren’t comfortable with.
But always know this: When the time comes to share your true self, you will feel so much love and relief and hope and freedom. It’s a truly special feeling, and I just can’t thank enough every single person who has helped guide and support me to this point.
H/t: LGBTQ Nation
Jim Fortier
Awesome
Rodney Church
Congrats coach 🙂 Btw, you’re very handsome
Steven Burr
yummy
Jack Walter
Woof!
Billy Budd
Awesome. Beautiful guy.
Tobi
I just watched the video, why doesn’t someone give him $500,000 to get his kit off, instead offering that deal to the Wicked Witch of the Desk?!
James Sigmon
Good for him he single
Jay A. Scaramazzo
Congrats. Just b u!
Jay A. Scaramazzo
Ed Razzano
Michael Clifford
Well done, coach!!
Bob Pattinson
Congratulations. We need more sports people to come out and prove there is nothing unmanly about being gay.
Bornwired
I’d hit it. 🙂
Brian
I would not recommend identifying as gay. Be yourself but don’t define yourself.
Glücklich
@Bornwired:
Uh-huh. I volunteer my face if he needs someplace to sit.
SportGuy
Wow, good for him, very masculine and handsome coach!
NoCagada
@Brian: Child…if you’re in the age group of, about, 18-25 years old, you might want to seek some mental help. You sound like you are in the onset of schizophrenia.
I do realize the voices you hear will tell you it’s not true…but don’t let those voices define you.
I would rather define myself than let somebody else attempt to do it for me.
Glücklich
@NoCagada:
I kinda hope his voices eventually encourage self-immolation.
wade.l
Why did he have to come out publicly? All the gay haters will find a way to get rid of him.
GTT
Brian – he is not identifying as gay.
He IS gay.
Just like most guys are straight.
If someone is sexually and romantically attracted to members of the same sex exclusively – that means they are gay. It is NOT a choice and it is NOT an identity. It is part of who someone IS.
Terrence Houlihan
CONGRATS brother!!! ALL the BEST!!!
martinbakman
Krzyzeweski said that? Fuckin’ awesome.
Kudos to Coach Burns.
Bisexual-Transwoman
Who?
Emer Sweeney Davis
Brian Hannon on FB – great!
Jon Kryander
It would be nice to live in a world where this is a non-issue. Everyone should be able to live an out an honest life.
Brian
Be yourself but don’t define yourself – that’s what I recommend to all people. If you are same-sex attracted, show it, don’t just say it. Just saying it is for weaklings. If you are strong, you’ll show it.
Also, when you say “I’m gay”, you are relinquishing ownership of yourself to the gay enforcers. The gay enforcers are a group of vultures who go around picking at people, sucking on their juices, and then leaving their carcasses to rot.
Do you wish to be a victim of the gay enforcers? I certainly don’t.
Xzamilio
@Brian: The mental health system has too many cracks in it to keep ignoring the issue at hand. Case. In. Point.
Bauhaus
@Glücklich:
Add mine and he’s got a bench.
GayEGO
A lot of gay people are tired of hiding and with equality advancing in our favor it is OK to come out publicly, I did in 1991 and have not suffered from it, I live next to Rhode Island in Massachusetts. I have a lifetime partner of 53 years, married 11 years, and I often have to say I am his spouse when we are at a business that needs to know.
Of course, living in Massachusetts I have not run into any Kim Davis nuts.
bottom250
I want to play with his balls
stranded
He’s cute, he looks like David Boreanaz.