View this post on Instagram
BMX pro Corey Walsh, the 27-year-old biking champ and spokesperson for Van’s sneakers, just came out of the closet. He stands as one of the very few professional bikers in the world to come out as LGBTQ.
In an emotional Instagram post, Walsh revealed how he struggled with his sexuality for years before finally going public.
“If you were to tell me a year ago that today was going to be the day where I said f*ck it and let the world in on my personal life I would have told you that’s never going to happen,” Walsh wrote. “But thanks to the support of my family, friends, and sponsors I can finally accept the fact that I am gay and be open about it.”
“Trust me,” he continued, “I’m not the person who wants to let people in on my personal life and in a perfect world I would not have to. But the reality is there are a lot of people still struggling with the same situations and I just wanted to let people know that they are not alone. I feel like the world is shifting into a more understanding place and now is the time to open up the conversation within our communities every chance we get. So here we are.”
“[Fellow biker Kris Fox, Walsh’s longtime friend] and all the dudes have had my back during this whole process and he wrote a little piece about it,” Walsh added. “If you have time to give it a read it’s now live on @digbmx. Link is in my Bio. Thank you to Will and everyone over at Dig for giving us the platform to tell this story, it seriously means the world.”
Related: Professional BMX rider-turned-model is latest male celeb to bare it all
The piece in question details the conversation in which Walsh came out to Fox, in the summer of last year. Fox affirmed and accepted Walsh on the spot. Walsh ended up caring for Fox as he underwent melanoma surgery later in the year.
For Walsh, the total acceptance from his friends, family and colleagues shocked and delighted him. He admits, however, that his experience is not universal.
“I understand the privilege I’ve had with my situation and the reality is a lot of members of the LGTBQ community don’t always get positive experiences,” Walsh wrote. “So I ask you if you can take anything positive from my situation please be open-minded to anyone struggling with their own journeys. And to anyone out there dealing with the bad days it does get better. Just take it one day at a time. And if anyone ever needs someone to talk to my DMs are open.”
“Also, a huge thank you to anyone else who has previously opened up to tell their story,” he added. “The only reason I have gotten to this point is because of you.”
“Holy sh*t that feels good, I’m stoked.”
So are we, Corey. So are we.
cuteguy
Thank you Corey for your bravery. We need representation like you
Kieran
F — Bette Midler. This is what a gay icon looks like.
amanwithanedge
is there something wrong with you?
James26
Well said!
TMBisAOK
Seriously dude!? They BOTH can be!
mailliw110
Gaydom is not a monotheist religion. There can be more than one.
James26
@TMBisAOK Bette Midler is not gay and is not a man. Further, she said in 2000 that marriage should be for heterosexuals, since gay men are all about f-ing and not about relationships.
Why would any gay man view her as an “icon”? We both know the answer, don’t we? It’s because they are effeminate and identify with women. Very sad, very pathetic.
Bengali
@kieran – so well stated.
Donston
What does Bette Midler have to do with any of this? That was some random ass and unnecessary shade. While the only reason you think he looks like a “gay icon” is because he’s a masculine looking and presenting, white male athlete.
(And yes, I know those are Conservative Republican troll accounts. It’s just sometimes the obvious needs to be said, though you don’t have to respond to every one of them like some posters do).
Congrats to Corey.
PollyDarton
When I think of people I’m familiar with, this person does not come to mind.
simulations
Ergo, he appeals to a demographic that struggles to identify with mainstream LGBTQ folks.
TMBisAOK
Sheesh “Polly”, why even comment then. ALL OF US have sections of society we know nothing about. Doesn’t make it any less important what this guy did. Congrats on making it about you. Ugh
mailliw110
Your name doesn’t ring a bell either.
Fahd
Good for the world and him! Long may he live and prosper!
sfcarlos65
Great! The most important thing you can do is be visible.
James26
It’s great to see a story on this site about a normal, cool gay guy. Let’s have more like this!
TMBisAOK
WHAT THE F IS “NORMAL”?! Keep you internal homophobia to yourself…or better yet, share it with a therapist.
Donston
“Normal” pretty much means “he comes off like how I perceive a basic ‘straight’ guy to be, but he’s ‘gay’ identifying”. I’m all about wanting diversity as far as “representation”. But so many of these dudes who swear that they’re “out and proud” have unsettled queer insecurities, “masculine”/straight-passing superiority complexes, femme-phobia, internalized homophobia, etc.
However, I’m pretty sure most of these random accounts that only posts to say problematic and hateful shit are just one or two people with multiple handles.
mailliw110
Wait…you’re not “normal”?
Essie
Good for him. He’s at the top of his game so coming out is way more powerful and meaningful to a lot of people than those who wait until they retire. He looks happy and I’m sure he feels like a weight has been lifted.
ScottOnEarth
Such an incredibly sweet coming-out message. Congrats on being true to yourself and helping countless others dealing with the same.
scotty
he is cute AF
Res1
I love it when bros come out. We need more bros. I just got into the stock market and it’s a real shame there aren’t any openly gay traders/investors. I guess all the gays are on Twitter screaming Free Britney. Aren’t we over that trope? I am.
rickywintour
Gay people aren’t a monolith idiot. For someone in stock your intelligence really isn’t all there. Please shut up and let other do them and you do you.
Donston
People are not “tropes”. The word you’re looking for is “stereotypes”. However, if folks don’t understand how varied and individual people are that’s on them, and it tends to speak more about their individual ignorance, insecurities, immaturity and resentments than about anything else. I don’t love how much social media promotes being basic and how much people like to uplift and hype up stereotypes. But the “bro gay/homo/queer/whatever” is as much of a stereotype as anything else. Everyone is pretty much a stereotype in some fashion or another days. While this dude could be as much into Rupaul’s Drag Race as he is into BMX. Honestly, your comment is the “trope”.
HMFan
We are EVERYWHERE and LGBTQ+ knows no bounds of sex, race, nationality, age, occupation, ability or disability, or ANY of the myriad of other artificial classifications by which people are sorted and grouped. We are HUMAN. We are ALL human.
Invader7
Handsome in a “scruffy” sort of way… like his eyes & smile..
whateverokok
Dotson,
You are a cool breath of fresh air in a community that is stale and moldy, but please do not purport to categorize me as stereotypical. The last thing that I am is stereotypical. When you think you have me figured out and expect where I’m going, I go in the other direction. And not out of spite or to try and “be non-stereotypical”. It’s just something I have always done. As though it is part of my DNA. I don’t even know I am doing it sometimes.