So we still haven’t had an openly gay active pro athlete yet, though we could have one in basketball or soccer soon.
But it’s promising to see college athletes de-closet themselves, and even more promising when they lead the charge for an entire athletics department to record an “It Gets Better” video and to stand in solidarity against the kind of gay slurs that are all too common in locker rooms and practices.
Jay Hayes, a senior at NYU and captain of the volleyball team, did just that by directing and starring in an “It Gets Better” video sanctioned by the NYU Athletics Department.
Hayes tells NYU Local that the video is part of his journey to come out as a gay athlete:
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At the beginning of his sophomore year, he finally told his friends and family back home. Throughout his coming out process, the one group that remained in the dark was his team at NYU.
“For me sports was my way of being straight because it was such a straight environment. It was a nice getaway from the reality of who I was. So that’s why coming out to my teammates was the hardest part of me coming out,” said Hayes.
Hayes’s teammates not only quelled his concerns, they took his announcement surprisingly casually, as if he was talking about the weather. “He just kind of straight up told us and everything was fine. Teammates are supposed to support each other, and it actually brought our team closer,” said teammate and fellow senior Pat Dodd.
Hayes helped NYU continue its tradition of being a volleyball powerhouse in Division III, with the Violets finishing in the top 10 in the nation multiple times in the last four years.
But, when Hayes was elected captain of the volleyball team this year, he wanted to do something for the gay community.
“I contacted Outsports.com, and told them my story, and they asked if I wanted to record an It Gets Better video with just me and my story. But it was awkward for me, and I didn’t feel comfortable,” said Hayes. “One day when I was working out I realized that we have such a good film school here, and we have such a close-knit community among the athletes, why don’t we do a video with all the athletes here at NYU.”
Hayes contacted the NYU athletic department, and with the help of the other sports’ captains and a friend in NYU’s film school, Hayes was able to complete the video over the course of his final semester in college.
His video is now only the second in the It Gets Better campaign done by a major university’s athletic program, the other from Northwestern University.
If other college departments continue to blaze the trail like Hayes and NYU are doing, I think it’s clear we’ll have an openly gay pro athlete in no time.
Tim
A HUGE thank you to all of the NYU athletes, coaches, and staff, for this courageous video. You are fortunate to be in such a supportive environment and all of the rest of us are inspired to know about it.
Matt
More pointless self promotion in an it gets better video. No surprise there. LGBT kids are being bullied and this guy feels the need to self promote himself and his joke of a university.
James
Wow Matt, negative much? I bet I know how you can get sweet again.
Chris S.
I am an alumnus of NYU and I can tell you that it is the gayest school in America so while I support this 100%, I sadly get depressed realizing that this is by no means a mirror image reflection of the average school campus.
Jim
NYU is not the “Gayest” school in the United States. Give me a break.
Chris S.
@Jim: I’m sorry… how many years did you attend NYU? OK. Besides the fact that straight boys were regarded as prized pigs for their relative rarity, the campus is in the heart of the village and my school apartment was literally 2 blocks off of Christopher. And in that room I got placed with 2 other gays by happenstance. And we have Tisch. And we would walk around in the street in drag (including my token straight friend who even went to a class like that). And… And.. And…
And if you still don’t believe me: do a google search or ask ANYONE who ever went there.
I just think it’s so funny because you, Jim, are literally the first person to ever challenge me on this. NYU’s reputation is just plain common knowledge. And more boys flock there every year because of that reputation.