One of the leading websites on the gay community in sports, the Out Athlete Registry on Outsports.com, reports that no professional male athlete in a major U.S. sport has come out publicly as gay during his career.
Well Not Anymore!
Meet Jay Hayes, a senior & captain of New York University’s volleyball team. He’s the bright man behind the It Gets Better video released by his school. Take note, NYU’s Athletic Department totally supports the cause and other athletes from different sports are featured in the video you’re about to see below.
At the beginning of his sophomore year, he finally told his friends and family back home. Throughout his coming out process, the one group that remained in the dark was his team at NYU.
Hayes helped NYU continue its tradition of being a volleyball powerhouse in Division III, with the Violets finishing in the top 10 in the nation multiple times in the last four years.
But, when Hayes was elected captain of the volleyball team this year, he wanted to do something for the gay community.
“I contacted Outsports.com, and told them my story, and they asked if I wanted to record an It Gets Better video with just me and my story. But it was awkward for me, and I didn’t feel comfortable,” said Hayes. “One day when I was working out I realized that we have such a good film school here, and we have such a close-knit community among the athletes, why don’t we do a video with all the athletes here at NYU.”
Hayes contacted the NYU athletic department, and with the help of the other sports’ captains and a friend in NYU’s film school, Hayes was able to complete the video over the course of his final semester in college.
His video is now only the second in the It Gets Better campaign done by a major university’s athletic program, the other from Northwestern University.
Click HERE to read more about Jay’s Story.
Now Watch This:
For more information, click HERE to visit Itgetsbetter.org!
For more information, click HERE to visit Itgetsbetter.org!
For more information, click HERE to visit Itgetsbetter.org!
In case you didn’t know, former USA volleyball player turned singer Jane Collymore made an “It Gets Better” video for Volleywood.
Here you go…
Finally, here’s a brief message from us.
Regardless of who you are and what you are, we love you! If you’re going through a difficult time, you feel depressed and alone, find someone to talk to like a friend or a family member. You can also check out the ItGetsBetter.org website.
Trust us when we say…
(image: Rachel Kaplan)
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