Yanic Duplessis is a 17-year-old elite-level Canadian hockey player who just became even more remarkable — he bravely came out as gay.
Duplessis, who was drafted by the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League’s Drummondville Voltigeurs in 2019, hopes that by publicly addressing his sexuality, he can help destigmatize coming out in the hockey community.
Related: Pro hockey player Zach Sullivan comes out as bisexual
“It was a struggle for me, and it shouldn’t be,” he said of his decision in an interview with the CBC, adding “it shouldn’t be a big deal.”
And though he describes hockey as “a very macho, manly sport,” Duplessis says he’s received overwhelming support, including this tweet from former NHL and current Quebec MNA player Enrico Ciccone:
?Yanic Duplessis, an elite athlete, has had the courage and dignity to publicly embrace his sexual difference.
????Congratulations, Yanic! This is not only a liberating step for you, as I’m sure it will be for others! https://t.co/KYtl1EVuPd @JMaccarone
— Enrico Ciccone (@EnricoCiccone) September 8, 2020
The NHL also shared support on Facebook, writing “#HockeyIsForEveryone”.
Yanic Duplessis hopes to inspire the hockey community by coming out. ???? #HockeyIsForEveryone(Quote via Craig Eagles)
Posted by NHL on Wednesday, September 16, 2020
Closer to home and even more significant, Duplessis’ teammates fully embraced his decision.
Duplessis shared how one teammate was particularly impacted:
“He came home and started crying because he said ‘I didn’t know you were going through this alone, and you should have told us.'”
While Duplessis does report hearing homophobic language tossed around in the locker room prior to his coming out, he expects that to change.
“If they knew I was gay, I’m sure they wouldn’t have said what they did,” he said.
Duplessis had for several weeks been in contact with former pro player Brock McGillis, who in 2016 became the first openly-gay professional hockey player.
Related: College tennis star reveals his surprising coming out story
“I’m always a little hesitant when someone chooses to come out in men’s hockey culture, and sports culture in general, especially at a young age … because I’m worried about how they’re going to be treated in the game,” McGillis said.
“I was so happy,” he recalls feeling after seeing all the support Duplessis received. “The biggest takeaway is: when we humanize issues for people they will more often than not step up. As we humanize, we can educate and have an impact.”
McGillis says many young closeted players have contacted him seeking advice.
“I have kids all over North America, some come through their secret, fake Instagram accounts,” he said. “There’s a lot of kids out there struggling with this. And it only makes sense.”
Hopefully, Duplessis just made it that much easier for the others.
Cam
Congratulations to him!
Harley
Now THERE is some bravery.
Donston
I’m very much getting tired of these dudes who “come out” and the first thing they do is obsess with protecting their perceived masculinity and “macho-ness”. That shit is tired and old. This is 2020. Yet, so many male “queers” are more insecure and defensive than ever. He’s young though. So, I’ll give him a pass.
lord.krath
Not everyone so readily or eagerly throws off the yokes of thousands of years of conditioning.
vinnieboiblue
You’re tired because society for thousands of years have shamed anyone that was bisexual, lesbian and or gay. Now that they are afforded the freedoms to let others know, no more lying to adhere to society’s homophobia you cannot handle it. People who come out, don’t do it for you or other ignorant fool. They do it to free themselves of the lies, for self emancipation. To live life the way they want to not appease anyone but themselves. After all, it is their life!
Kwh
Glad your coming out process was so easy . For most of us it was not and even in 2020 in Canada it can be a struggle as we deal with many years of discrimination. No matter the person nor the sport coming out is usually a challenge for most
TheDefiler
Where do you see him “protecting his perceived masculinity”?
Donston
I’m not even really coming at this young man. My issue isn’t with him. He’s young. He feels like he can finally be himself. That’s good for him. But this is the umpteenth article that features a dude “coming out” while he also still hyper-focuses on his masculinity and making sure his “manhood” and “toughness” isn’t being questioned. It’s 2020, and that’s still such a persistent pattern. And “gay media” isn’t really calling it out. I understand phobias, sociology, ego, insecurities, stereotypes and years of conditioning are to blame for this stuff. However, we can’t just let “coming out” and identity be the be-all of everyone’s journey and self-understanding and being “good”, healthy people, because those things are not typically the be-all for anyone’s struggles and journey. We have to make sure people are examining things like internalized homophobia, femme-phobia, masculine pressures, masculine superiority complexes, effeminate inferiority complexes, gay/homo insecurities, mental health struggles. Because these are things that run deep in many “out” people. Coming out and/or embracing whatever identity doesn’t hide a lot of problematic shit.
KenDC
Precisely nothing in this article suggests this brave young man was protecting his masculinity.
jrex100
So, you’ll give him a pass. How friggin big of you. Just who the hell do you think you are anyway?
LumpyPillows
Giving him a pass would have been to keep this opinion to yourself, Dottie. Just saying.
Terrycloth
Phone will be ringing…please pass on an ellen interview …hope everything works out great eh
Kangol2
Very glad for him. He says, “It was a struggle for me, and it shouldn’t be,” but why shouldn’t it, especially given how much homophobia still exists in hockey, male sports, and even Canadian society? His teammates are supportive, which is excellent, but what about others around him, from his close to extended family, his larger community, etc.? It still is a struggle for many, so bravo to him for making and taking this step.
Dadams77
It should not be because as a culture we need to work toward getting past homophobia and transphobia. True, we are not there yet, but this is what we ought to be striving for
exgoalie
So glad for this young man. It definitely was a brave, gutsy thing to come out. Hockey is definitely a “macho” sport but with his support system being so welcoming and accepting, i hope his future in the game is bright and maybe a bit less stressful as i have to assume there will still be others who just don’t get it.
fur_hunter
For ALL THOSE who downplay the actions of this young man, OBVIOUSLY have NO CLUE!!!! When I was growing up, it was NEVER something to discuss or even be let known. WHY? Because you were being told you were going to HELL by the church, that no one would love you, you would lose your job, your family would disown you, you were mentally ill and more. Yes. It was the 50s and 60s. 2 out of 3 teenage suicides were gays, leaving behind letters, saying they did it because no one was going to love them anymore. I didn’t come out until I was 28. Yeah! 28!!! ALL because of the STUPIDITY that existed at that time and it STILL continues into today. I even lost my first job as an engineer when the company found it out. So….to have those in the limelight come out and let others know there is someone like ME out there and there is NOTHING wrong with me and it’s going to be all right. I DID NOT have that luxury. I admire ALL those who do come out and act as symbols for others. Kudos to them.
amanwithanedge
it always starts with bi-sexual.
RyanMBecker
What are you talking about? The first paragraph clearly said he came out as gay, not bisexual: “…who just became even more remarkable — he bravely came out as gay.”
missuniverse
He is a HOTTIE !
LumpyPillows
Even today it isn’t the easiest to come out. In sports it is very difficult. A+ for this lad and being brave and talented.
PollyDarton
Who is this?