National Basketball League’s 1st out gay player turns his near-heartbreak into life-saving hope
Isaac Humphries came out publicly as gay in the National Basketball League 3 years ago. He reflects on that journey and what came before. The post National Basketball League’s 1st out gay player turns his near-heartbreak into life-saving hope appeared first on Outsports.
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For American fans, the four major sports leagues in the United States get all the attention when it comes to publicly out gay players in men’s pro sports. Jason Collins, Michael Sam, Robbie Rogers and Carl Nassib come to mind when talking about LGBTQ trailblazers, but gay athletes who play outside of the U.S. deserve recognition too.
Isaac Humphries, a center who plays for the Adelaide 36ers of the National Basketball League (NBL), became the first active pro male Australian basketball player to come out in 2022. He played college basketball for the Kentucky Wildcats, and then very briefly in the NBA with the Atlanta Hawks.
A moment inside the locker room with Humphries’ coaches and teammates went viral that year and became a beacon of hope for other athletes to potentially tell their stories and know that their friends would still be there for them.
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This month marks three years since Humphries’ announcement, and the brave player has generously spent time talking about how his life has changed since coming out.
He hopped on Adelaide’s NOVA919 radio to reflect.
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Two years ago, Isaac Humphries became only the sixth active men’s pro basketball player to come out publicly as gay.
Humphries says he’s thought about whether his reasoning and intentions for coming out have changed or stayed the same in the years since the announcement. He’s glad that those intentions have stayed stable.
Helping people in his situation, inspiring young kids, and being a positive example for anyone in the sports space or outside of it have been a core part of his journey.
Humphries also said that he’s met so many incredible people in the gay community that he never thought he would before coming out. It’s important to hear an out athlete talk about this since so many LGBTQ folks feel so alone before they come to terms with who they are.
Humphries says that he attempted to take his own life before he came out and thinks about all of the meaningful experiences he’s had since coming out that he wouldn’t have gotten if he’d ended his life.
It makes his experiences in the fields of mental health more impactful as he tries to help others in his shoes.
Isaac Humphries helping to save lives
One commenter below the IG post of the above interview said that “Without a doubt he’s the reason I’m still here. Earlier this year I spiralled so hard and fast and I didn’t know what to do, but Isaac’s media work around mental health, and his music, helped me to get help…sounds strange from a complete stranger, when I couldn’t tell friends or family, but seeing the RU OK day and sharing his story kept me here.”
Humphries talked about other people who have come up to him in person and told him how his story helped save them.
“Last week someone grabbed me at an event and literally came out to me in the corner of a room and said he has never told anyone that. It is a pretty unreal feeling when you think something I say to someone can literally change their life, save their life.
“It is incredibly interesting to wrap my head around sometimes. It has been a bit to get used to, but I’m pretty used to it now and I’m very proud to be that sort of person for people.”
There have been a handful of inspiring LGBTQ athletes who have come out recently, but Humphries continues to be one of the most outgoing and proud still playing today. He stands up for what he believes and wants others to feel the relief of living authentically.
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The post National Basketball League’s 1st out gay player turns his near-heartbreak into life-saving hope appeared first on Outsports.
