Gay Pro Wrestler Darren Young Wishes He’d Come Out Sooner
It’s been one year since Darren Young became the first openly gay wrestler in the WWE, and he’s penned a sweet little reflection on the past year.
“Looking back on my life since coming out a year ago only makes me wish I’d had the strength to come out sooner,” he writes. As you’ll recall, his coming-out was a bit of a surprise, even to him. A TMZ mosquito just happened to ask him if there could be a successful gay WWE star, and just like that, Darren was basically like, “Yeah, me.”
“Does it matter to you? Does it change what you think about me?” he said at the time. “I guess if you want to call it coming out; I really don’t know what to say it is but I’m just letting you know. I’m happy with who I am, I’m comfortable with myself, and I’m happy to be living the dream.”
Now a year later, Young offers some advice to people still in the closet: “The best first step you can take is coming out to those who are closest to you. The most painful experience was hiding my true self from those I loved.”
He also talks about how rewarding he’s found it to work with GLAAD, NOH8 and Athlete Ally. And he tells a story about a fan who came up to him two days after the coming-out: “He told me he had seen the news about me and admired my courage. He said hearing my story helped him come out to his family. He was emotional and started crying. I knew what those tears were about.”
“If I could go back in time, I would tell myself this: You have more support than you think you do,” he writes. “Being true to yourself is key to reaching your personal potential.”
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15 Comments
#TeamKizito
November 25, 05:48Hmm. What can I say..
Do you think there could be any successful gay Nigerian superstar?
pinkpanthertb
November 25, 05:49No!
Lol.
Well not in this generation anyway
chestnut
November 25, 05:57That Afro is giving me LIFE!(*sigh* there was a time I used to have thick, full hair…)
I wonder what it would be like to date a wrestler… My ex-boyfriend and I used to wrestle occasionally (the bruises were totally worth it though…hehehe)
pinkpanthertb
November 25, 05:59Wrestle.
Bruises.
OK. *taking a deep sip from my tea*
Mr Bassey
November 25, 06:13Pour me a cup pinky dear.
pinkpanthertb
November 25, 06:18Would that be black or with milk?
chestnut
November 25, 06:25Hahaha…dirty minds. It’s not what u think o! It was just innocent, wholesome wrestling.
Peak
November 25, 06:37@chestnut we should ve tea sometime! Yes. Pinky I see u giving the side eye! What can I say, I like playing rough. *tongue out*
Ueze
November 25, 06:48Folks on here drink way too much tea.
No business of mine though!
Micky
November 25, 07:17Right?? I mean! Lolz
shuga chocolata
November 25, 07:40Chestie I think we should swap stories over milk shakes.
Do you want it warm or cold?
#the power.
Kryss S
November 25, 09:40It depend on d kind of “loved ones” though. If I’d want to come out in Nigeria, I’ll better come out to a friendly stranger or better still don’t come at all. My loved ones r too judgmental nd too holyghostco filled! I would b so so judged eh, I might commit suicide. Anyways, different strokes 4 different folks.
Metrosexual
November 25, 10:32Oh my goodness… I love him more… I had such crazy fantasies about Darren Young….
Mr Kassy
November 25, 17:55…Awwwww! So emotional and challenging too.But it is so sad that I see my kind marrying all the time due to societal pressure.It makes me wanna cry each time I see a brother unhappy with a suite and a Bride*i alws say “what a clueless biatch!”*I wish am an American.
lluvmua
November 25, 19:46Lol @ pinkie can I have some tea too? And comming out anytime soon? Naaaa *withdraws into closet more* or mayb when am 40 and I live in newyork mayb then I can give it a thought!!! But for now its a big NO!