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28-year-old two-time Olympic gymnast Danell Leyva celebrated National Coming Out Month by coming out of the closet himself; an admission, he says, was not easy to make.
“I always knew,” he admitted to Olympic Channel. “It was always just very rejected, internally rejected because of the way that we’re all raised. And especially coming from a Hispanic family, it’s very much rejected. As I was growing up, I would always somewhat reject it. But then, the more I accepted myself… I started realizing more and more things. I started realizing how normal it is.”
Leyva took to Twitter this month to make the announcement. Then he hit a snag: he didn’t know how to label himself.
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“In the post, I said that I’m still trying to figure out between whether I’m a bi or pan. It was nice to have people be like, ‘You don’t have to label it. You don’t have to just be ‘a thing’. It’s an ever-changing fluid thing, so you don’t have to worry about that,’” Leyva explained. “That was nice because that was certainly reassuring.”
“If I get help one person be brave enough to live in their truth, then I feel like that that was the entire point of that post,” he added.
A thread for #NationalComingOutDay
For a long time I’ve known that I wasn’t straight. But because of certain very personal reasons, I always rejected that side of me. Earlier this year I finally understood that I’m bi/pan (still trying to figure that one out) but…
— Danell Johan Leyva (@DanellJLeyva) October 11, 2020
Despite news headlines constantly dominated by the election and ongoing pandemic in the country, Leyva says he received an outpouring of support from his fans, and even a few of his fellow athletes. Fellow Olympians Aly Raisman, Simone Biles and Laurie Hernandez all reached out to offer support. Leyva welcomed the comfort, as he also adds that he’d resisted coming out for years to avoid validating stereotypes.
“[Stereotypes were] such a big factor in it, just not giving those people the satisfaction of being right because it doesn’t come from a good place,” Leyva admitted. “It wasn’t somebody that was trying to help us understand [sexuality]. It was just somebody pointing at us and that doesn’t feel good.”
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Ultimately, Leyva feels vindicated by coming out, and hopes that one day, people won’t have to experience the kind of shame and indecision he faced in going public.
“I hope to one day live in a world where your sexuality is as irrelevant as whether or not you’re right or left-handed. You know, it’s such a non-issue. It literally means nothing that if you’re just like, ‘Oh, you’re left-handed? That’s cool. Oh, you’re bi? That’s cool.’ Like, it’s really nothing,” Leyva said. “The only way we can achieve that is by making it normal, by doing things like what I did by coming out publicly, by talking about it publicly, by just helping people understand.”
The Cuban-American Leyva grew up in Maimi before beginning his gymnastics career. He competed in the 2012 and 2016 Olympics for the Team USA, showing off his gifts on the horizontal and parallel bars. He picked up a bronze medal in 2012 as part of the Men’s Gymnastic Team’s overall win, and two silver medals in 2016, one for his showing on the horizontal bar, and one for his work on the parallel bars.
We’re happy he’s on our team too.
buffy123
What a talented athlete and positive role model. I’m stoked we’re on the same team. Cheers in your honor tonight!
phillycap
He can call himself whatever he wants. As long as he’s happy and loved by the people who matter to him, that’s all that matters.
WashDrySpin
YES TO ALL OF THIS!!!!!!!!
KyleMichelSullivan
That was the finest comment anyone could have made…and so completely true…
Donston
Guys are more likely to get caught up in masculine pressures, hetero pressures and ego pressures. Even after “coming out” a lot of guys seem to stay caught up in trying to fit in with certain people, trying to live up to certain social pressures and/or trying keep a safe distance from certain “shameful” stereotypes (especially “gay” or “effeminate”). Dealing with fluidity, contradictions, mental health issues and/or internal phobias can’t help. That’s why not getting overly caught up in validation and social/identity politics is so important and why being focused on honesty, self-care and doing what you really want to do is key.
Jim
do these guys realize how much less “courage” it takes to “come out” then it did just a generation ago?
Donston
You’re sounding like a bitter old queen. Just because something is easier doesn’t make it easy. Also, you really don’t know what an individual’s circumstances are like, how much immediate prejudice or closet pressure or confusions/fluidity they’re dealing with. I do think it’s time to stop declaring people “brave” or “courageous” and stop focusing so much on representation or being a role model. Those things tend to just add more pressure or narcissism to the equation.
Cam
@Donston
For somebody supposedly opposed to labeling people, you certainly don’t mind throwing out the homophobic label of bitter old queen at someone.
How interesting.
Donston
Cam, I’ve read you for filth multiple times for being judgmental, overly defensive and for talking about stuff you really don’t know much about. Outside of that, I’m not pc and I call out BS. I referred to that post as sounding like it came from a “bitter old queen” because that sounds like something a bitter old queen would say, just like how a lot of your posts come off. Though it seems as if you’re trying to actively change that impression.
drmiller
Jim, I am going to assume you said this in rejoice. Don’t we all want things to get easier? I hope we keep moving and it keeps getting easier and easier. I would imagine people who came out a generation ago would not only love to have it as “easy” as we presume people today have it, but they would at least be humbly thrilled to hear that things improve over time. These are all good things 🙂
Cam
@Donston
Translation: You decry labels then use them to attack others. You obviously don’t fear one particular label, that of hypocrite.
As for “Reading me for filth”, I wasn’t aware that you had, it must have been in the 7th or 8th paragraph in one of your posts and I stopped reading before that point.
Cam
Jim, we can’t judge other’s experience. This guy is from a traditional community, he is in the public eye, etc.
Let’s celebrate any easing of the difficulties.
Donston
If your first inclination is to tell younger people that they need to be grateful then, yes, you’re a bitter old queen. You as well are a bitter old queen, Cam. Most of your posts include self-victimizing, shaming people, judging people and pushing identity politics. Worst of all, you don’t really know shit about shit. Now, you’re trying to talk about being a hypocrite? You’ve spent tons of posts attacking people for not wanting to “come out” or for not wanting to assuredly attach to an identity. Now, you’re trying to be all understanding.
You and Josh are both two easily threatened, insecure (queens) peas in a pod who are just starting to realize you know a lot less than you thought.
Alex_S
Especially to come out as “bi/pan”. Is it a mantra for their female fans to give them a glimpse of hope still?
LumpyPillows
@cam @dotson Ack, I have to agree with cam. Dotty should know better than to be an ageist and history denier.
Donston
Nowadays, this site only seems to attract bitter old queens with nothing to contribute but self-victimizing yarns, dismissive attitudes and/or bitchy “jokes”. I just need to completely let go of this place. Seems like everyone else with some genuine sense, wit, insight, intelligence, empathy have already moved on.
Cam
@Donston
Actually, I didn’t agree with Jim’s take. Which you would know if you read instead of lashed out. What I was pointing out was your hypocrisy.
You very often will write multi-paragraph screeds on here against labeling etc. And the second you want to attack, look what you did. You labeled. My post was very simple. You were being a hypocrite, and for all of your posts attempting to paint yourself as above it all, the second you disagreed with somebody, the first thing you went for was an attack and labeling them with an ageist homophobic old trope.
Look, you were caught, accept it and move on. If you were truly as enlightened as you pretend, this would be a learning experience.
AxelDC
So what?
snuggles65
Lets be honest about something here & with Queerty too. They always say they NEVER have an agenda on here but why is it EVERY story they do about some semi famous person or athlete coming out is about someone who looks like a model type or could be a porn star. Would Queerty run the story if this guy was a Former Olympic gymnast & was now 300 lbs with a 46, 48 inch waist . Probably NOT. Why so many of you , like Donston, are making such RAVE reviews about someone you don’t even know. Btw Donston, sticks & stones baby. WOOF
KyleMichelSullivan
This is true, as I well know know, but I think it’s wonderful that things are so much better now. Fifty years ago, he’d have lost his career, his family, and might even have been committed to a mental institution or been arrested and put in jail…just for coming out. Now? I am so happy that is no longer a given.
It’s not perfect, yet. I hope some day we’re at the point where sexuality is not even labeled straight, gay, bi or pan or anything but just is what it is, without walls or barriers of fear.
Meanwhile, I’m happy for him and for all the younger people who are now able to accept who they are in every way. That is what makes this so lovely.
Cam
Congratulations on coming out! Don’t stress as much about whether you’re bi or pan and just worry about being happy with where you are!
chi eg
I’m happy for him. So much of the Olympic coverage on him focused on his sexy, macho (i.e., hetero) image, his Cuban heritage and his coach/ father. Coming out is still very difficult for many, many people in this country and around the world.
dhmonarch89
I’ve been associated with gymnastics for years- he’s one of the biggest jerks that’s been on the US team for the last decade or more…maybe this will help him a better person.
WashDrySpin
Gurl please….stop it…just stop it…
dhmonarch89
I love how gay guys are just pronounced liars…trust me jack ass- I have parents, a boss and boyfriend- I HAVE NO NEED TO WASTE MY TIME lying to a pack of strangers on line! If something doesn’t fit your narrative from a guy you don’t know about a person you don’t know- it’s a lie. ES&DMF!
Cam
Except you typically come on here to defend bigots and attack lgbtq people. So you’ll have to excuse us when we all notice that you are very eager to try to tarnish somebody coming out publicly.
Because, that is what Republican trolls hate.
dhmonarch89
CAM- I’m one of the BIGGEST left leaning liberals on the planet! I’ve never voted for a Republican or defended a bigot in my life- stop trying to insinuate you know me- CLEARLY you’re confusing me with someone else and know NOTHING about me! Gay people (as demonstrated here every 5 minutes) CAN be assholes… and as I said- maybe he acted that way as part of covering his sexuality up and I hoped he’d be a better person now. JEEZ- learn to read!
WashDrySpin
For those who thinks coming out is easy…YOU ARE WRONG…everyone has a journey thru various internal and external landmines…I respect EVERYONE’s journey as long as they are not using the closet to deny gay rights…like Aaron Schock
Alex_S
Does anyone really care?
WashDrySpin
Ahole…you logged in and you responded so you care….
ppp111
Good for him. I’ll be honest I’m surprised he never did it any sooner but to each his own. It’s not like he was in an area that denied LGBTQ rights to people (yeah Schock we’re talking about you).
Josh447
It’s a beautiful day for this guy to come out and finally be free. More power to him. I Googled his gymnastics videos and he has this striptease one on there that is totally incredible. Those moves. He really knows how to work a crowd.
rocknstan
Just by coming out he is helping humanity.
I applaud him for that.
However, isn’t the “pan-” and “bi-” and “fluid” classification scheme overly complicated and disingenuous?
Every guy knows what his dick likes.
Can one’s dick really like everything?!
Donston
Some people are entirely hetero, homo or bi/pan in every way (or almost every way) and stay that way throughout their lives. Some people have orientations that evolve in whatever ways over time. There’s prejudices, social pressures, ego pressures, internal phobias, masculine insecurities, money/attention/clout-chasing, hyper-sexuality, extreme fluidity, paraphiliacs, trauma and mental health struggles, and any of those things can make it difficult for someone to sort themselves out. They can also contribute to some shitty, manipulative or self-destructive behaviors. Sexuality alone doesn’t just entail genital arousal. It’s also about attractions, desires, enjoyment, comfort and affirmation. While the overall gender, romantic, sexual, affirmation, emotional, commitment spectrum is extremely varied.
Yes, it is indeed “complicated”. But if you’re not willing to at least try to get most of this stuff and accept this stuff then you don’t have much of anything to contribute to the conversation. Everyone has their own dimensions, struggles, motivations and journeys. That is just something we all need to accept.
LumpyPillows
Yes, for the most part it is pretty simple if people get out of their own heads. All the rest is drama, self-involved oversharing and attention seeking.
Donston
Josh, u aren’t good with the multiple handles thing. You’ve used all this language before. And your go to method for picking at me is always “I don’t like your convoluted answers” + “I think you’re crazy”.
Like Cam, you’ve become so obsessed with disagreeing with me and picking at everything I say that you’ve reduced yourself to a pathetic, transparent troll. Even when u agree with what I say you still pick. You and Cam, two insecure bitter queens who know a lot less than they think.
Cam
@Donston
Yes, you’re so not obsessed with me that you brought me up on a thread I wasn’t a part of. Please excuse the noise, apparently they are adding an extra room on the space I rent in your head.
UlfRaynor
@Donston, No your sexual orientation does not change over time, it is an immutable and innate characteristic, what does change is your acceptance of your true sexual orientation over time.
You are a perfect example of that.
Just because you prefer to think of yourself as more evolved now because you falsely labeled yourself as homosexual in your youth, only to discover later on that you were indeed bi/pan doesn’t mean that your sexual orientation changed.
Toofie
Good for him! Encourage and not criticize!
Donston
I see the bitter and insecure queens are out and raging. As always, with multiple usernames, bitchy and unfunny comments and being dismissive towards anything outside of their realm of experience and understanding. Typical but still sad.
Cam
And you still can’t avoid using a homophobic label.
It will be interesting to bring this up the next time you rant against labels.
Heywood Jablowme
Cam the Paranoid has been obsessed for years with the supposed “multiple usernames” who are always attacking him! Suddenly they’re attacking you, too? Eek.
Cam/DC Guy’s level of IRL “queeniness” is undeterminable, but we know he’s definitely old – even older than I am – and he’s 100% retired because he comments on the vast majority of articles here (often first), no matter if the articles are posted in the morning Eastern Time, or afternoon, or evening. (Except sometimes when the article is about a celebrity under age 30 who he’s never heard of.) Cam thinks practically everything YOU write about falls under the category “bisexual.” He thinks Queerty and you are engaging in “bisexual erasure” by “promoting” all these new “labels” that are too complicated for him and, in his unhumble opinion, politically unnecessary. His attitude is like the Trumpers who want the Washington Redskins to keep their name because… well, that’s what bitter old folks (queens or otherwise) do.
Donston, I hope you DON’T leave Queerty comments! Most of us Kinsey 6 types don’t immediately understand much of what you write here, but I’m open to learning something occasionally. 🙂
Cam
@Heywood Jablowme
It’s cute when you switch to another screename to attack. But if you wanted to convince us you aren’t Donston, you may want to shorten the response a bit. LOL
Heywood Jablowme
Heh. Donston is in his early 30s, and I’m in my early 60s, so I guess I’m flattered!
Again Cam does his usual thing of being too lazy to keep track of who anybody is here, and self-centered enough and paranoid enough to think everyone is ganging up on him under multiple names.
Cam
@Heywood Jablowme
By all means, keep pulling attention of a prominent person coming out so you can whine about me. Thank you for your support.
mailliw110
Um…….okaaaaaaayyyy……
skyboy63
Ooh surprise
Josh447
LoL
Res1
He has been rumored to be gay for over 10 years. Glad he got the courage to come out. Better late than never, I guess.
Prax07
Oh wow, a guy I didn’t even know exists comes out as bi, the shittiest sexuality there is, and I’m supposed to care or be happy he’s doing something so basic that twelve year olds have been doing it for decades now? Screw that.
Cam
Please explain. It seems like you would rather he stay in the closet?
Heywood Jablowme
As we keep hearing, this the Most Important Election of Our Lifetimes.
So one might think that, in the final few days of the campaign, the MOST POLITICAL poster here might have something BETTER to do than spend all his time attacking other gay, anti-Trump people on Queerty!
No Biden phone banks for Cam, apparently. Has Cam even sent $5 to Sara Gideon or Jaime Harrison?
Cam
Interesting, you keep claiming you aren’t Donston under another screename, yet you have now attacked me multiple times, for accurately pointing out that Donston, who claims not to like labels, used an ageist, homophobic label to attack somebody else.
Funny how intensely personal you are taking something that wasn’t directed at you…you know, if you aren’t the same person and all.
Heywood Jablowme
@Cam/DC Guy: So in other words, you aren’t doing anything in real life to elect Biden and defeat Trump. Far easier to be ever vigilant on Queerty, patrolling the “multiple usernames.” Got it.
Heywood Jablowme
On reflection, my only complaint about this article (aside from the comments) is this:
Really? – an article about a hot Olympic gymnast and Queerty doesn’t even have a shirtless photo?
Kangol2
Good for Danell Leyva, however he identifies or not. I agree with Heywood too about the photos; there are more than enough out there of Leyva in all of his Olympic glory, so why didn’t Queerty just search & post a few?
Now, there were several other members of his Olympic squad who are problem on the LGBTQ spectrum team, so guys/folks, he’s opened the door & when you’re ready, you can walk or vault or backflip right through!
RFD
Damn, this Donston person is really determined to be a hater and always negative! That one should get another life outside commenting all the time! And before he says it no I am not a “bitter old queen”. I am none of those things. But if I was, there is nothing wrong with being old or a queen! Donston seems well….just plan bitter. He should move the hell on.
rickywintour
I agree. Donston seems like one of those sexual fluidity nutcases. Very condescending and arrogant. I’m sure nobody will miss him if he goes. One less sexuality flipping conspiracy theorist on Queerty.
RFD
Congrats to Danyell! And as to him being a jerk before, maybe so. And this could be partly why. That and his dad constantly being all over him and seeming domineering to him.
JED08
His Instagram is pretty damn delightful, he sure does not come across as a jerk.
Denny98
Okay…I’ll be the first to state the obvious – He’s a real cutie!
balttymore
Good for him,but he also said that he isn’t attracted to cis men…So that probably excludes most of us
Cam
Weird that he thinks he might be Bi then. Because if he isn’t attracted to cis men at all, it would seem to put him someplace else on the spectrum.
RyanMBecker
It’s notable that neither the article nor the displayed social media mention anything about his father. His father was his coach when he competed, and they often shared a kiss, prompting observers to say how close they were. Leyva’s other trademark was burying his head under a towel while he focused or emoted. Leyva’s only allusion to his dad is a remark about how hard it was to come out because of the way he was raised. That comment and lack of any mention of his dad imply that there may be some friction between them because he’s gay. Am I seeing too much into this?
As an aside … although I’m straight and not into facial hair, I think he looks freakin’ hot in the above photo. Even hotter than when he competed.
Joseph1971
I respect his gymnastics accomplishments. However this is old news folks. He had a profile on adam4adam.com in the Miami area which clearly showed his face. It was a few years back but he was in no way hiding his identity. To say he is “coming out” may be true to friends and family, but it was the worst kept secret in the south Florida gay community that he had a profile on A4A. I tweeted him about that profile so I am curious if he will admit to being online or not. Either way it is his life to live and I am happy for him.
Kangol2
@Joseph1971, just one point: if something is a “worst kept secret,” it’s still a secret but now Danell Leyva is publicly out, for all to see, not just his “friends and family,” so his truth isn’t just one that the South Florida gay community knows. We all now know because he’s “come out.”
amanwithanedge
“28-year-old two-time Olympic gymnast Danell Leyva celebrated National Coming Out Month by coming out of the closet himself; an admission, he says, was not easy to make.”————–
YOU DON’T ADMIT THAT YOU’RE GAY, YOU INFORM. GET IT RIGHT.
balttymore
He’s not gay….He said he wasn’t attracted to cis men
Kieran
I remember when Elton John was a bisexual.
BOB K
LET’S GET THIS “STRAIGHT”
“BITTER OLD QUEEN” IS A HOMOPHOBIC TERM
FROM THE 1960S
… Someone who is so hateful that they have to repeat the term needs to look in the mirror although they’ll probably cause seven years bad luck for themselves
Josh447
Agreed. Not even a costume needed for Halloween. It’s gotta be rough being that Miss Understood.
The real Bruce
I admire Danell for finally “coming out” to himself and others, but especially to himself. To look within yourself and see who you really are. in spite of what you and others think you ought to be, is such a release and relief. Maybe dhMonarch89 saw the “inner struggle” side of Danell and I like the fact that he hopes that he becomes a better person now. Time will tell.
As for Donston, Cam and the other “always on here” bitch queens, if you spent as much time working on being a better person yourselves, as you do sniping at others, perhaps we would read less from you. I wish you well in your quest. I’m 73 and still consider myself a work in progress. Grow up sweeties! Cheers
o.codone
Almost every other comment here is from CAM. He argues, he opposes, he criticizes, he negates. This is the same pattern as Eduardo1985, the guy who practically blew-up Queerty about 5 or 6 years ago. (You remember when the new Comment Policy was put in place). CAM is always the first to comment (just like Eduardo) and posts multiple comments often commenting of his own comments. Face it Queerty editors, this is Eduardo1985 and he’s about to blow-up Queerty again unless you reel him in. Every story, every time, multiple issues, comment after comment. Everybody’s sick of this guy.
bluewindboy
Any support from his mates on the 2012 or 2016 teams?