When 17-year-old high school water polo star Noah Ratliff decided to come out via Facebook, he hoped for the best.
He’d already told a few close friends at Gresham High School in Gresham, Ore., and the support he felt from them gave him the extra ounce of courage to speak his truth to his entire network.
Related: High School Student Uses Senior Quote To Come Out In High Style
“I hope that everyone will support me and understand I just couldn’t keep this a secret anymore because I want to be happy with myself and hope that you’re all happy for me as well,” he wrote, adding “If you have any questions or just want to talk to me feel free to message me or text me if you have my number.”
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True to Facebook form, the response was instant.
One of Noah’s favorite replies, he writes in an OutSports first-person, was from his water polo teammate Jake.
“Anyone who does water polo is at least a little gay,” Jake told him. “But seriously way to go dude.”
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In a different context, Jake’s comment could be construed as homophobic, but the overwhelmingly positive intention behind it shows just how far past the issue so many teens have become.
And the rest of the responses were equally encouraging.
Another teammate, Thomas, told Noah “I wanted to say that it’s awesome that you came out! Honestly don’t really care that much, you’re still that same old Noah who bullies me in the pool. But much respect man.”
This summer, Noah will compete in the USA Water Polo Junior Olympic Championships, and in the fall will attend Mercyhurst University in Pennsylvania to study biology and play on the men’s water polo team.
We imagine he’ll find just as much acceptance in his new community.
Billy Budd
Where is his photo wearing a speedo?
Gavin Fitch
His teammate had the best response possible. Good for him and his teammates. I’m proud of where the next generation is in terms of open-mindedness.
Billy Budd
The french movie “Grand Ecole” is about a gay boy who falls in love for his water polo team mate. It is a very nice movie and has lots of nudity (eye candy).
redcarpet30
He’s right. Isn’t fingering your opponent considered common practice?
Dakotahgeo
Absolutely the best to you, Noah! You did the right thing and are a better person for it. Blessings and Peace, guy!
Pastor George M Melby
onthemark
And anyone who can teach a horse how to swim is at least a little gay. LOL.
Tommysole
Well kids today got it easy as far as being gay, trans, lesbian, Bi, whatever.
When I went to high school in the 80’s it was a real meat grinder for any gay kid. of you were suspected of being gay you were hounded and harassed without mercy until you dropped out or killed yourself.
The teachers didn’t care, the parents were just as bad, and good luck going to the police. IT was always, “They are just fags, who cares?”
The school I went to was not as bad as the other ones I just described. My high school was a last stopping place for the freaks, geeks, outcasts and people that were expelled from every other school in the Shore area.
As far as my sexuality goes, no one ever bothered me about it. Being a person that had a rep as a lunatic helped quite a bit.
Bauhaus
@Tommysole:
It still depends on the area of the country and the community, but overall, kids do have it better, as many schools have anti-bullying and anti-discrimination policies in place today. I wouldn’t say LGBT kids today have it easy, but there’s a totally different attitude and level of acceptance now.
My high school experience was agonizing, as I was outed my sophomore year. As an athlete and with two brothers in the same school, I was never bullied, but I was ostracized. I was very fortunate that my brothers had my back – we fought like sailors at home, but they would have demolished anyone who looked at me sideways. A few times I was called a “f@ggot”, but I never let it slide, confronted the offenders, and that was the end of it.
Oh, water polo is probably the most grueling sport out there. Way to go, Noah.
DuMaurier
@Billy Budd: Come on, Billy. You know how to Google. It took me about three seconds.
t-mac
His speedo pic is in this article:
http://www.outsports.com/2015/6/23/8822329/noah-ratliff-water-polo-gay-oregon-coming-out
Bob LaBlah
He would be the perfect model for the cover of the magazine The Hitler Youth, if such magazine existed. Look how pale…..anyway.
Silver Veloz
Cool!
Glücklich
@Bob LaBlah:
Oh c’mon now…hey….I’m not interested in seeing a high schooler but for a second I was tempted. I loooooove pale. Mmmmm-hmmmmm. Pale skin is hot.
cwilson284
As a Portlander (and Gresham is part of the Portland metro area) and native Oregonian, I can tell you that Gresham is not often cited as a forward-thinking community, so what Noah has done and the way his teammates have reacted is indeed a positive move for our community at large.
Billy Budd
@Glücklich: Pale skin is VERY hot.
Billy Budd
He is drop dead gorgeous in that blue speedo!
Me2
@Bauhaus: Outted sophomore year?!?? I would’ve DIED!!! However, my younger brother did find my gay porn collection when I was in HS but he never told anyone. Thank God for loyal siblings!!
billywonka
Congrats, Noah. Enjoy your out life!
Giancarlo85
OH wow… we have a bunch of 40-50 year old creepers gushing about a 17 year old. How typical.
Bob LaBlah
@Giancarlo85: Notice how NONE of them gush about you?
mujerado
@Bob LaBlah: And that’s relevant to the story–how?
Giancarlo85
@Bob LaBlah: Well I’m a dark slim latino. They prefer pale white butt.
SFHarry
This reminds me of when I came out in the late 80’s and I told a friend I was gay who replied,”that’s great I was worried that you were just a loser.”(because I never dated anyone) It was one of the best responses I got. She at the same time let me know she was just fine with me being gay and she maintained her great sense of humor so it wasn’t uncomfortable in the process. She still is a good friend 30 years later.
Glücklich
@Giancarlo85:
I wonder if it’s an opposites-attract sort of thing. I’m half Latino (dark-skinned Mexican dad, white mother) so I’m light tan-skinned with a Mestizo nose. I like all sorts of “looks” but something about fish white skin just makes me want to run my hands all over it. Mr. Glücklich’s English-Irish, and two of my three other, closest partners are English-German and Irish so at some level I must have a thing for fish-white.
Glücklich
Hey Queerty piss the hell off with the goddammed half-page Feltchbook begging.
enlightenone
@Billy Budd: I will check it out. Always wanted to learn more about “water polo.” Lol!
PLAYS WELL WITH OTHERS
@t-mac: Always can count on fellow Queerty folks to show us the goods!
>My favorite High School story was when my BF Jeremy and I were on the wrestling team. He had a bitter breakup with his BF who then outed Jeremy to the entire school. In solidarity I too came out.
Most of the guys on the team didn’t have a problem with us being Gay ( didn’t hurt that we were both county champs :p ) However three of our “team mates” began cry to the Coach and demanded a team meeting to “explain how uncomfortable they felt with Gay teammates” The loudest of the three began with the old standard of “how uncomfortable showering with us” would be……………..
Jeremy replied to the most supportive outburst of laughter we could have hoped for “You guys have nothing to worry about! We only check out the hot guys”…….They left the team and our team had an unbeaten record that season!
Dakotahgeo
@PLAYS WELL WITH OTHERS: Your story made my week! So happy it turned out well! Your event will make it so much easier for others to come out with style and pride. All the best! Pastor George M Melby.
PLAYS WELL WITH OTHERS
@Dakotahgeo: TYVM!
Even to this day Jeremy’s spot on retort gives me great case of the giggles
(:-p)
Clark35
@Tommysole: That’s true. A friend of mine who was in highschool in the early 80s and gay and femmey had it rough, and he was even bullied by a gay guy he thought he was friends with who was closeted and who he’d had sex with.