Pro soccer player Collin Martin has come out as gay.
The 23-year-old athlete made the big announcement on Twitter this morning, just hours before his team hosts their Pride Night tonight against FC Dallas.
“I am announcing for the first time publicly that I am an openly gay player in Major League Soccer,” Martin wrote. “June is Pride month, and I am proud to be playing for Pride, and to be playing as an out gay man.”
Tonight my team, @MNUFC , is having their Pride night. It's an important night for me — I'll be announcing that I am an openly gay player in Major League Soccer. #soccerforall pic.twitter.com/cOJQXfrBiv
— Collin Martin (@martcw12) June 29, 2018
Martin has played FC midfielder for Minnesota United for the past two seasons. Before that, he played four seasons with D.C. United.
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He is only the second openly gay player in Major League Soccer’s history. (The first was Robbie Rogers back in 2013.) And he is the only openly gay active player in any major pro sports league in the U.S.
The Football Association recently the launched its “For All” campaign which aims to include people of all sexualities, ethnicities, abilities and disabilities, faiths, genders, and ages.
Check out some pics from Martin’s Instagram page…
Related: PHOTOS: This dreamy Israeli pro wrestling champ just came out as gay
tham
Soccer and hockey players are the hottest players.
ptb2016
It’s a pity none of the thousands of European soccer players have the guts to come out as gay or as in favour of lbgt. Soccer is Europe is like a religion attracting many fanatics who are amongst the foulest mouthed, most insulting, violent fans you are likely to find. Alcohol plays a big part in it. Unlike rugby, families no longer feel safe going to soccer games. At rugby supporters from opposing teams often watch from the same stand. And homophobia is frowned upon.
Cm7md deserves all our support and encouragement. It’s time the walls of the soccer world were kicked in. In the 70s thé gay club i went to in a London had two England players visiting regularly. It’s there, but nobody wants to take it on and be the brave one to stand up first and put up with all the abusive chants from the stands,
gothvixen
ptb2016, I couldn’t agree more. The Justin Fashanu story is so tragic; there needs to be one person brave enough to be a figurehead by coming out and allowing football to start to shake off the horrendous bigotry that has poisoned it for far too long
crowebobby
A soccer player is just a hockey player with teeth. (Not funny and doesn’t make any sense at all, I know.)
Mick406
His IS super cute! And I bet he has a beautifully sculpted body, but . . . with a small wang!
ElPillo
They have great legs
Curtispsf
MY experience with gingers is that they are well endowed. That said, I wouldn’t be all that concerned with the size of his member. If it works, I’m fine with that. There are much more important attributes I’d be interested in. And I’m sure I’m not alone in thinking along this line.
JLJ
Mick406… Some stupid comments should be kept to yourself. I assume your meanness is to compensate for YOUR “short comings”.
Curtispsf
WORD!
nitejonboy
I’d love to play ball with him…and by balls I mean his.
Paul Nadolski
I’ve never been prouder to be a Minnesota United supporter. Come on you Loons! Looks like I have a new favorite player. 🙂
PLAYS WELL WITH OTHERS
There’s a soccer player with real balls! Love him
strix1
Good for him. WTG Collin!
valentino888
“Super” cute is stretching it a little.
Kieran
The words Trailblazer and Hero come to mind.
judysdad
“Super cute”? Excuse me, but did a 12 year old girl write that headline?
Jeesh!
Zambos271
It’s sad he is the only out male athlete in any of the major sports.
Celtic
UM, Robbie Rogers has been an out soccer player for several years. He played for L.A.
Zambos271
Robbie Rogers retired.
Celtic
I am confident there are many more, either gay or bi. At some point in time, it no longer will be necessary to announce one’s sexual orientation. This is such a waste of time and emotional energy. People must be allowed to live as they are without feeling compelled to out themselves to the world. I realize athletes do this in order to encourage others, even if that means to self-identify as queer and embrace it. I have been out and gay for fifty years. Sadly, I believe there has not been enough progress.
Kangol
Congrats to him for his bravery. Perhaps more in MLS will follow his lead.
lazlicious
He’s very cute. I hope he doesn’t sell himself to some rich old Hollywood congresswoman the way Robbie Rogers did.