A CrossFit athlete and popular Instagrammer has come out of the closet in a candid and touching post.
Alec Smith shared his story via Instagram video, naturally, telling his 300K+ follower:
“I know this isn’t a fitness related post, but there’s been something on my mind that I’ve been wanting to talk to you guys about for a while now.”
He continued:
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.
“I think I’m finally ready to. So, I’m gay, and I’m at a point in my life now where I’m okay with that.”
Related: Star 29-year-old athlete James Faulkner celebrates his birthday by coming out
He went on to share that he first became aware of his sexuality during adolescence and that he “hated” himself because of it.
“Ever since I was a kid, I told myself that I was never gonna tell anybody and figure it out when I’m older,” he said. “And I’m older, and I’m still figuring it out now. I still don’t really know who I am and it’s okay. It’s okay to not know who you are.”
For the many people struggling with the same issues, Alec advised:
“Don’t feel pressured into telling anybody anything you don’t have to. This is your life, you shouldn’t have to please anybody else. When the time is right, it takes some people a month and it takes some people 26 years. Focus on yourself.”
Related: Champion Israeli wrestler Nir Rotenberg wants to be a role model for queer athletes
The response was overwhelmingly positive.
Tyler Oakley wrote:
“proud of you! thank you for sharing your truth. congratulations & welcome to the fam!”
And the sentiment was repeated hundreds of times in other comments.
Watch below:
And just because we’re here already, here’s a taste of his other posts:
Chrisk
He kind of looks like Steve Grand. Whatever happened to him. Queerty sure lost interest.
Jim
Grand is busy playing concerts from P-town to Los Angeles and is doing well. I believe he also has a new CD coming out.
Esscourt
He’s busy getting fisted.
PLAYS WELL WITH OTHERS
Good on him.
Just sorry took so long for him to accept who he is and be at peace…..
PLAYS WELL WITH OTHERS
Now I have a reason to look into CrossFit games and someone to root for!
:-p
michel_banen
Same thoughts here 🙂
jeff
Move over Gus Kenworthy…. looks like you have just officially been dismissed! LOL
Rex Huskey
gus who?
Esscourt
Another young, muscular white guy comes out of the closet—GRAND CANYON-SIZED YAWN!!!!!!!!
jimontp
why must you be so nasty and negative? A Black rapper just came out this week, did you have the same bitchy comments then?
I’m old enough to remember Harvey Milk when he was still alive. His constant refrain was “come out, come out, wherever you are.” It didn’t matter when you did it, But your friends, relatives, neighbors, people where you worked, or in this case more modern instagram and twitter followers would all realize that there are LGBT+ all around them. Shame on you for your snarky comment, when the guy had obviously been so nervous and disarmingly honest.
And if Alec Smith ever reads this, watch Weekend, a great gay film, just have the subtitles on so you can understand their Yorkshire accent.
michel_banen
Especially for younger people it’s a big thing when a public person has his / her coming out. It might support them so to you it might be a ‘grand canyon sized yawn’ but to others this might be the support / story they need.
youarederanged
@Esscourt sounds a little racist, no? Guess we should only care when non-whites come out. LOL.
CurtisIsTheOne
@Esscourt Jealous, a bit? I’m guessing YES. Go to a gym or to a bob or a joe. Just GO.
nitejonboy
Damn that muthafukas fine as hell, he could always do porn if crossfit doesn’t work out!
dean089
Best wishes to Alec Smith, but it would be more of an example, more of a ‘role model,’ if we saw more coming out stories about average-looking guys, maybe overweight to some degree, maybe socially awkward, because that’s most of us who are already out and most of the guys debating whether or not to come out. We have had and will have a much, MUCH different coming out experience than a charming, good-looking athlete.
Paco
Congrats that he made it official, but I suspect he has been out for years now without realizing it. Glad he is finally able to accept himself.
khan72
Alec,
Many people think the same thing, I’m “never gonna tell anybody and figure it out when I’m older”
The truth is, we never figure everything out, because we constantly change and evolve over our lives.
We live our lives thinking about some idealised time in the future.
In the words of Carl Sagan “We are like butterflies who flutter for a day and think it is forever”
The universe is 13.772 billion years old, we get maybe 100 years to enjoy it. Alec, flutter and be grateful that you got to flutter at all
Zambos271
He’s cute and has a nice butt.
GlenMartin
Now that is one beautiful man. I am so happy that we are progressing to a time where LGBTQ people are finally feeling the freedom to not be afraid to come out. All the best to him in his new journey finding the happiness and contentment that comes with being honest with yourself and not being ashamed of it.
rand503
Well, all I can say is that if he says hello like he did at the opening of his video, coming out was NO surprise to anyone.
Giuseppe
Very nice, but that baseball cap perched on his head like a tiara was the first clue.
Josh447
He’s a beautiful soul, I found his vid very touching. I wish him the best on his journey.
petej
the best “coming out” video ever? great wisdom and insight.
Rex Huskey
i mean was there ever any doubt?
SPEEDOSWIMMER
Made my cooter SNAP!
***MOISTNESS***
Godabed
nice body, basic face, i give him a 7.
Grats on coming out, hopefully your won’t have to feel that pressure of being in the closet anymore.
Rex Huskey
sun glasses help