Dennis Del Valle is a professional volleyball player living in Switzerland and a member of the Puerto Rican national team. He just came out as gay in an interview with the Swiss website 24 Hours.
Del Valle, who is originally from San Juan, played volleyball in college at Penn State before going professional and becoming a free agent. He says he chose to come out now in hopes that it will inspire other queer athletes to do the same.
“Now is the time to speak,” the 31-year-old explains. “There are lots of young athletes who live in secret, in Switzerland and elsewhere. … I hope they will say to themselves: ‘Why not me?’ Maybe I could change someone’s life. My speech could allow some to gain confidence, to feel safer, not to stop [playing a] sport for fear of rejection.”
Del Valle says he was hesitant to come out at first because he didn’t know how it would be received by his teammates.
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“I especially didn’t want to break the chemistry of the team,” he says, “that it could become weird in the locker room for some, that they imagine things, fixate on my homosexuality, no longer dare to go to shower in my presence, or whatever.”
But, he continues, “When I get to the room, I’m there to work. It’s my priority. I’m not here to watch guys or flirt.”
Following the interview, Del Valle took to Facebook to say he was “feeling proud” and to thank everyone for their support.
“What an unusual Sunday for me,” he wrote shortly after the interview published. “While I thought I was doing something nice and special for myself, I didn’t realize how much more I was doing for others like me.”
“I wanted to use this platform not to tell the world my story or who I am. But to try to inspire other people, kids, especially athletes that don’t have anyone to look up to.”
Scroll down for more pics from Del Valle’s Instagram page…
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Good on him, awesome inspiring sentiments expressed..
I’d most definitely be interested in playing ball(s) with him……
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Thad
There’s pro volleyball?
Beachman
Sounds like a great guy, and what else to say but YUMM!!!
TheAbsoluteTRUTH
Haha @Thad u beat me too it. Who knew
frapachino
Pass!
richardNobbs
The headline coming out notice is one of the best I’ve ever seen.
njplr
For years, I have told my friend Ricardo he is the only boricua living in CH. I guess I was wrong, lol.
nm4047
those Swiss will take anyone from other countries, so long as they never expect to become a national and will do the dirty jobs the Swiss feel it below them. 🙂
nm4047
Given volley ball is a major event at the gay games, I just assumed it was (being indoors) a choice of gays or more so lesbians. Would never had thought there was sufficient interest for it to be a ‘pro’ sport, beach volley ball yes, but volley ball as a stand alone, who knew.
kboi808
For those of us that follow volleyball, we are more than aware that there is professional volleyball in Europe, Asia and Latin America. It’s sad to see our college volleyball players graduate and have to move abroad in order to play their sport. As for Dennis, he is a phenomenal player and was a shining star for Penn State. I enjoyed watching him play many times when the Nittany Lions came to Honolulu to play our Rainbows. Even back then my gaydar went crazy for him and fueled some very hot fantasies…..