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Pro wrestler Darren Young reflects on being the first openly gay WWE performer

It’s been seven years since former WWE superstar Darren Young made headlines when he came out as gay.

In the lead up to 2013’s SummerSlam, the pro wrestler told TMZ that, yeah, he was gay, thus making him the first out WWE player in history. Shortly after that, he appeared on Ellen and Today Show to share his story and to hopefully inspires others.

Young, whose real name is Fred Rosser, left WWE in 2017. Now, in an interview with TV Insider, he’s reflecting on his historic coming out experience.

“When I came out, people had reached out to me on social media. There was one who told me her friend, a big wrestling fan, came out to their family. It was that moment I realized my story was a big deal,” the 36-year-old recalls.

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Powered by kindness and not built to be defeated by any unkindness ?? Today, I also show Others what Love can Do!! #payitforwardday is here and 81Countries are going to #stand4kindness through random acts of Kindness ?? Join us by drawing a heart on your hand and posting a picture. More importantly GO #spreadkindness and continue to block that hate! #blockthehate #closedfistopenheart @payitforwardday ?? • • • • Follow my podcast ?@proandbrowrestling #poweredbypride #ketolifestyle #ketocommunity #moment #wrestling #life #cbdhealth #cbdcommunity #cbdcures #prowrestling #wwe #thedoubtersmademedoit #beyourbestversion #mevsme #unbroken #dontgiveuponyourdreams #bestrong #fitness #nevergiveup #theresroomforeveryoneatthefinishline #fighter #nodaysoff @titusoneilwwe

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Young says other WWE performers reached out to show their support.

“Guys like Randy Orton, Big Show, Mark Henry, Sheamus, Titus O’Neil, they made it a lot easier to walk into the locker room,” he continues. “I always say coming out also greatly improved my performance as an athlete and a person.”

“Instead of worrying about what people thought of me or what they were saying, I was able to fully own who I am and focus my energy on my wrestling and my advocacy work. I say my fight is much bigger than any ring.”

He adds, “To be the first openly gay WWE superstar, I’ve been able to encourage wrestling fans all over the world to go after their dreams. Do not let the negativity of others derail your journey.”

While Young, who launched the pro-LGBTQ #BlockTheHate social media campaign, says he personally “never felt discriminated against,” he does think there is still work that needs to be done.

“We still have a long way to go, but we are making moves,” he says. “We’re making moves to be accepted and to put yourself out there and be a superhero. For me, I’m going to be that superhero for the LGBTQ [community] or anyone that gets bullied.”

He continues, “We’re still a long ways away. With the new law passed from the Supreme Court for people in [jobs] not to be discriminated against in all states in America, that’s huge for us. [On June 15, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that federal law protects gay, lesbian and transgender people from employment discrimination.] Nobody wants to be discriminated against for their sexual orientation. For them to pass that, it’s amazing.”

“We have a long way to go. But there is progress.”

Scroll down for more pics from Young’s Instagram page…

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I can't let the sun ?? go down without saying thank you to @outshinefilm for honoring me this weekend. Remember, no matter what they say you are perfect just the way you are, you deserve to love and to be loved. I love all and thank you for being the best IG family I could've ever wished for!!! #momshot ? @rosser1961 ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? #miamiproud #blockthehate #poweredbypride #closedfistopenheart #miamibeach #miami #fashion #fitness #travel #miamilife #moment #lgbtyouth #equality #lgbtcommunity #loveislove #betrue #wwe #miaminights #sobe #southflorida #pride #sports #picoftheday #photooftheday #wrestling #dontgiveuponyourdreams #thedoubtersmademedoit #nodaysoff #theresroomforeveryoneatthefinishline @proandbrowrestling

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I know I’m the guy that has everything it takes to be a champion. It's not just about being great inside the ring: it's about being able to do great things outside of the ring. Not everyone has that. I love to be out there with the people. This is the people’s Block The Hate Legacy Championship! ??????? • • • • Follow my podcast ?@proandbrowrestling #blockthehate #closedfistopenheart #pride #love #mevsme #poweredbypride #equality #betrue #photooftheday #capture #moment #wrestling #life #prowrestling #wwe #thedoubtersmademedoit #beyourbestversion #mevsme #unbroken #dontgiveuponyourdreams #bestrong #theresroomforeveryoneatthefinishline #fighter #nevergiveup #nodaysoff

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Train insane or remain the same is not a solo endeavor. Saturday November 23, 2019 CAN’T COME SOON ENOUGH ? If you’re anywhere close to @CentenaryUniversity in Hackettstown, NJ you better not pass up this opportunity to come join the #Blockthehate movement that’ll be running wild and witness an ass whoopin’ delivered by me to ??@ray__jaz right on the campus of Centenary University!(Tickets in bio) • • • • #runyoncanyon #losangeles #la #runyon #fitness #workout #CycloneSlam #Blockthehate #closedfistopenheart #poweredbypride #equality #wrestling #wwe #thedoubtersmademedoit #cbdbenefits #beyourbestversion #mevsme #unbroken #theresroomforeveryoneatthefinishline #fighter #nevergiveup #KWYC #closedfistopenheart #cbdlife #cbd #cbdcommunity #cbdmovement #nodaysoff Be sure to follow my podcast ?@proandbrowrestling ??

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Letting that #Southbeach sun ?? kiss ? me before our screening of His, Her, and The Truth at American Black Film Festival @americanblackfilmfestival which screens dynamic content by and about people of African descent from around the world TOMORROW June 13th 4:30pm at the Regal Cinemas South Beach 18 & IMAX ? @hhttthefilm #HHTTthefilm #ABFF2019 #momshot ? @rosser1961 ?#whyhidehardwork #BLOCKTHEHATE • • • • #miamiproud #poweredbypride #closedfistopenheart #miami #fashion #fitness #equality #betrue #wwe #sobe #southflorida #sports #picoftheday #photooftheday #wrestling #dontgiveuponyourdreams #thedoubtersmademedoit #theresroomforeveryoneatthefinishline #filmfestival #director #cinema #movie #producer #nodaysoff FOLLOW my podcast @proandbrowrestling @miamibeachpd

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? Autumn cleaning sale! These are all taking up too much space in my garage, so my loss is your gain. The elasticity in them have stretched out to the point that they can't be worn again by Mr. No Days Off! All of these items are available individually. If you would like to own any of these items send an email to [email protected] and I’ll even throw in a signed ?8×10 picture. Own a piece of wrestling history. ?? . . . . #memorabilia #collector #collection #sports #autograph #autographs #toycollector #vintagetoys #blockthehate #fitness #equality #mevsme #photooftheday #beyourbestversion #unbroken #dontgiveuponyourdreams #bestrong #thedoubtersmademedoit #theresroomforeveryoneatthefinishline #poweredpride #closedfistopenheart #cbdlife #wwe #prowrestling #wrestling #wrestlinggearforsale #pride #nodaysoff Follow my podcast ?@proandbrowrestling

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If there's any message to my #BLOCKTHEHATE movement, it is ultimately that it's OK to be different! Be the most authentic version of yourself. Over the past few years, my journey has been very interesting so I believe in never turning down opportunities to share my wisdom and my knowledge and my experiences to this younger generation. My philosophy is Don’t Die With A Story In You…Tell It! ? @payamtphotography #bedifferent ? @hqclothing . . . . #closedfistopenheart #teachlove #love #beyourbestversion #beyou #wwe #raw #wrestling #summerslam #fitness #picoftheday #photooftheday #life_portraits #portraits_ig #portrait #pictureoftheday #sports #lgbtqhero #theresroomforeveryoneatthefinishline #thedoubtersmademedoit #unbroken #neverbackdown #nodaysoff

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