22-year-old college tennis player Nile Clark says he first realized he was bisexual around first grade after he started simultaneously crushing on a girl in is class and Erik von Detten from The Princess Diaries.
“It hasn’t really been confusing for me,” Clark tells OutSports “I was exposed to same-sex relationships very early on.”
One of his grade school teachers was gay, and he had a classmate with two dads.
In sixth grade, he came out to a close friend. He says the friend’s response was, “That’s fine. That’s cool.” The other people in his life had similarly supportive responses.
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“I don’t have those ups and downs and pains and struggles in that area of my life,” Clark says.
Related: The short film “Wonderkid” explores the challenges of being a gay professional athlete
Today, Clark is a member of the University of Miami men’s tennis team, where he just finished up his junior years. He says his sexuality hasn’t been an issue there either.
“I’m going to school in a time where same-sex marriage is legal, which creates a different environment socially, and that definitely eases things for me,” the 6-foot-2, 180-pound athlete explains.
So what’s the issue?
Convincing people that he’s really, truly bisexual, not gay.
“People just think people will use it for a transition to, ‘Oh, I’m gay,’” Clark explains. “That’s a challenge that I have.”
He continues, “I feel like, for me personally, it doesn’t need that much explaining. If you like dudes, OK that’s what you like. If you like girls, that’s what you like. I just happen to like both. It doesn’t seem like that hard of a concept to grasp to me. That’s what’s annoying.”
Clark says part of the confusion probably has to do with the way he talks around different groups of people.
For instance, when speaking to straight women and gay guys, he usually only talks about his attraction to other guys. But when chatting with straight guys, he tends to talk more about his attraction to females.
“It’s not something that I really do consciously,” Clark says. “It’s just something when you’re with people that have like interests, you’re going to share those like interests more than what you don’t have in common.”
Related: Pro wrestler comes out as bi after posting adorable video with his super cute boyfriend
As Clark prepares for his final year at the University of Miami, he says he hopes to start raising more awareness to bisexuality and bisexual athletes. He tells OutSports that he hopes in doing so it can help take the weight off other LGBTQ athletes.
“A lot of people struggle with their sexuality,” Clark says. “Me as a D1 athlete–I don’t think of me being anything great–but maybe that could affect someone else.”
You can find Nile Clark on Twitter @Clarkdashian or Instagram @Clarkdashian. Scroll down for some shots from Clark’s Instagram page…
Kenney G
I really don’t give a shit , Next!
Donston
So, he’s another bi-identifying man whose biggest struggle is the tragedy that people think he’s gay. And of course, he’s another who says he “likes” men and women rather than finding them both sexually attractive. And of course, he spends all day being shirtless on Instagram. I’mma need the next random nobody guy who comes out as bi/fluid/flexible/etc in order to receive some easy press from Queer media to come harder than this.
Donston
And before someone claims I’m “bi-hating”, based on the title I assumed we were gonna hear some detailed, confrontation things. But it was another fluff piece with vague, conceited quotes from a dude showing off his six-pack.
There are people out there with real stories and struggles who are willing to truly tell those stories but Queerty (and most LGBTQ media) are only interested in evasive and/or attention-whoring pretty boys with nothing real to say.
Richard 55
Nile Clark should be admired. He is helping to liberate men in general. He is not allowing the gay identity to own him and he is not allowing women to own him.
Gay-identifying men no longer represent male liberation. Men who say “I have the right to be attracted to whomever I feel” are the new male liberationists. They represent freedom and male power.
Women and gay men might find male power offensive but that’s just tough.
Donston
I was waiting for your patented response. I expected something more outrageous. I’m frankly disappointed. It seems like you just copy and pasted some of your old stuff.
Donston
The ironic part of your redundant and ridiculousness claims is if all men started to identify as bisexual it would actually lead to more female power both socially and politically, and you don’t even realize that.
Donston
Your perspective is also ironic because a decent percentage of bi/fluid/queer-identifying men are only sexually attracted to men or have attractions that lean greatly towards men but identify as bi because worshiping and pleasing women stabilizes their egos and they look to be subservient to them. So, most of those guys wouldn’t align with your “anti female power” motto either.
Kangol
Typical anti-gay BS from Jason Smeds/Richard 55/whatever new name you’re using. Please get psychological help, pronto!
Kangol
Good for Nile Clark to stand up for bi orientation. I hope he’s truly comfortable with who he is and I also wish him success with his tennis career. We could definitely use a few hot male pro US tennis players these days.