Marion University hockey player Brock Weston has just come out in an emotional essay for OutSports.
The 25-year-old Canadian-born player says that he long resisted coming out, following a series of gay rumors on campus of the Font du Lac, Wisconsin university. Things finally reached a tipping point this year.
“I knew I had to come out to my team when I had a meltdown in my apartment last spring with my roommate and a really close friend present,” Weston writes.
“I was so upset after going out one night that I threw my phone at the wall, punched a hole in my door and was bawling uncontrollably. I knew I could not live like that any longer.”
How about we take this to the next level?
Our newsletter is like a refreshing cocktail (or mocktail) of LGBTQ+ entertainment and pop culture, served up with a side of eye-candy.
Weston eventually resolved to come out to his roommate and his family. His team, however, would prove the most difficult hurdle of all. The reason: the atmosphere of homophobia in the sport.
“This has been my nightmare for years and to be honest this day has haunted me for months,” Weston told his teammates.
“To hear the things I hear about people like me from you guys and the hockey community has made this nearly impossible. I just hope you understand: I didn’t choose this, and I hope you won’t turn on me.”
He continues, “Growing up as hockey players we are exposed to the locker room talk from a very young age, hearing it from our buddy’s crazy dad that says whatever the f*ck comes into his head with no regard. We pick it up quickly because we are little sponges.”
“Every guy we’ve ever played against has been a ‘loser’ or ‘f*cking f*g’ or ‘a c*cksucker.’ You get the picture.”
Weston then made six requests of his team: that they know he doesn’t stare at their naked bodies in the locker room; that he doesn’t want to be the subject of slurs or jokes; that he still puts his team before everything else; that they feel free to ask him questions; and finally, that they did not run around campus telling everyone.
Figuring that his coming out would mean the end of his hockey career, Weston had planned to leave the locker room immediately after delivering his remarks.
“Before I could leave,” he writes “one of the guys I thought might react negatively spoke up and said, ‘Hey Brock. We love you no matter what. I think we all agree and you’re a part of this family and we have your back.’ Everyone then got up and bro-hugged and we had basically a huge team group hug.”
Weston says his team has also stopped with the gay slurs around the locker room, and around campus. Since coming out, he’s gone public with his boyfriend of two years, introducing him to his teammates and family.
Brock will graduate from Marion this spring with a BS in Biology. He hopes to pursue a career in sports medicine after graduation.
Related: Pro soccer player comes out as gay by introducing his boyfriend on Instagram
Troysky
….can I hug him, too?
Woteva
Hey – I saw him first. Get in line!
Cam
This is why religions and right wingers are so desperate to keep people from coming out.
His team had a lot of casual homophobia, and now because this brave man came out, they are aware of it, are stopping it and some may even become allies. The right wing’s nightmare.
Virpilosus
Cam…Well said!
SparkyMICH
“…we had basically a huge team group hug.” Or what I like to call “A Sausage Fest”. Hey, a guy can dream.
Kangol2
Not MARIAN University? Anyways, very good to see this & congrats to Brock Weston.
kylede
once again, i hate to say it, but until it is someone who is getting paid and has a paying contract it matters not – there are plenty of out amatuer athelets now, and it isnt the issue anymore, we need the pro leagues to support someone coming out
PollyDarton
I agree. I was confused with the headline that indicated “hockey star”.
Cam
Anybody who comes out is helpful.
Alex_S
@Cam Anybody? LOL What about Aaron Schock?
jthomasmpls
If you “hate to say it” then don’t.
Brook Weston took a huge risk for him, he was willing to risk losing a team and game he loves. We all benefit from his risk no matter how big it small it is to each individual. I acknowledge and thank Brook Weston and all those who have risked what is important to them! That takes guts!
Cam
@Alex_S
LOL!!!!! Ok, how about this….Anybody who comes out who didn’t spend ages attacking us and still refuses to apologizes…….is good.
PLAYS WELL WITH OTHERS
Good on him and his teammates!
Also pretty darn attractive. I would definitely puck around with him!
🙂
jmr123
The only person that keeps you from coming out is YOU, NOBODY else. Nothing to do with anybody, right/left or any religion. Some people never come out. It’s up to the individual how you want to live YOUR life..out, or in the closet.
wikidBSTN
Every time a person comes out – progress, in some way, is made.
Black Pegasus
Queerty where are the coming out stories of the fat, bald, broke and old gay men?
It seems only athletic young white men with social media accounts are the only guys coming out in the world. 🙂
Chrisk
Ha. You have to ask yourself. Would people still be clicking on the story if instead it was a “fat, bald, broke and old gay men” coming out? Unless it concerns rape or murder I doubt it.
Kangol2
I fully agree with you, @BlackPegasus. To their credit Queerty did just feature J. August Richards’ coming out. He’s Black, 46 years old, and does have a receding hairline (and I think looks good with it). Queerty probably will not feature stories about anyone coming out who’s 1) not already famous, 2) not young and attractive, and 3) not some combo of the these two things.
They could do a regular coming out feature that would share the stories of a range of random, everyday people but I doubt it would attract many views or positive comments. Even when they do post photo spreads or articles about gay and bi men who are overweight/heavy, not rich, and older, the posts either elicit no comments at all or receive negative to very negative ones. I can think of at least 3-4 like this. So while I agree with you, perhaps the challenge isn’t only Queerty’s but its readership as well.
Troysky
@Black Pegasus maybe we’ll get there someday.
ingyaom
This guy is an undergrad @ 25?
jayceecook
I was 23 when I graduated. There are lots of reasons your traditional college student might take longer to graduate. Also, while the majority of students will be younger there are a large number of non-traditional students on campuses across the country. I had many in my classes.
Troysky
@ingyaom bfd!…i was 24, because I changed majors and had to take separate time to work. Others start university after being in the military…shall we go on? not everybody has to be an undergrad below a 22 y/o ceiling.
Woteva
He’s a gay guy who’s got the balls (pardon the pun) to stand up and be counted. He’s in an historically very homophobic situation and I applaud him for taking another brick out of that slowly crumbling wall.
And if he wants a SERIOUS rub down after a match, I’m your man!
donnafnelson
Work from your house for two to six hrs every day, and start getting averaging 1000-3000 bucks at the end of every week. Read more information here>? 0.gp/a728L
GayEGO
Wonderful news! When people know that you are a regular human being like they are and you treat them with respect, they return the favor. I was with my lifetime partner 57 years, acted normally, followed the rule – Never mix business with pleasure, and we have had many good years with friends, straight and gay, married and single. I remember when I was 20 and in the Navy, I heard that gay people were undependable. I thought – Really, I will show them! And I did! I resolved any issues in the Boston 1st Naval District Band as a flute player in the band, introduced my “roommate”, and after 4 years I received an honorable discharge.
Kieran
In the old days, Patti La Belle was considered a “gay icon”.
These days, hockey stars like Brock Weston are the gay icons. I like these days better.
Troysky
@Kieran ….hell yeah.
jlogb
Great story! I played college football and came out years later… still afraid I’d lose that brotherly bond… continues well after playing days end. I didn’t lose the ones that mattered, stunned by those I assumed the worst. Amazing what conditioned fears can do to steal life from our years. Respect his COURAGE!! Yay for his team.
rocknstan
In any given population 4-10% of people will be non-straight.
When LGBT people remain in the closet, everyone suffers.
FU*K the norm.
HiKo73
I need to stop reading these posts near my period…I am so proud & happy for him!
ANDDDD…I’m crying <3