Ryan & Corey’s Story
I began to realize I was bisexual in college. Being on the college football team and later as a professional athlete, my attraction to men gave me a lot of anxiety. The dominant perception of male sports and especially of the National Football League is that they are closed-off and exclusionary to LGBT people. This fear was very real to me, and was a big part of what kept me from coming out for so long. Initially, I told my best friend and then gradually came out to my family and a few others, but I was still hesitant to make my sexuality public.
I met Ryan on a dating app. At the time, love was the last thing I was looking for, but Ryan was pretty persistent. We talked on the app for a bit before moving to Instagram. Then, we decided to meet for coffee, even though I hate coffee. His smile caught my attention right away and we sat and talked for a long time. Initially, I thought he played (American) football on the weekends with his friends, but eventually I figured out he was a professional player. I didn’t know anything about football, but we connected on so many different levels. At the time, I had a rule that I never dated anyone who was in the closet, but for some reason, I wanted to give Ryan a chance.
For the first two and a half months, Corey and I didn’t want to label our relationship—we just let it evolve organically. Except for the days we spent separately with our respective families, we were always together. Every day felt like we were the only two people in the world, which was a feeling I had never experienced before. It was like a dream.
With Corey's support, I decided to come out to the world in 2019 via a YouTube video and on ESPN. Afterwards, I felt such an immense sense of freedom. Despite my fears, the reality was that most, if not all, of my teammates, coaches, front office staff, trainers, and colleagues were overwhelmingly supportive. I could finally lead a happy life holding hands with the person I love!
When Ryan came out, it felt like a dream unfolding—he was sharing his truth! I came out rather early in life (I was around 13 or 14) and have since always been open and honest about my sexuality. As a professional dancer, I was fortunate to have been accepted and embraced for my talent regardless of being gay. I am so happy that Ryan has finally been able to experience that same sense of acceptance and freedom.
Artist Notes
“This illustration features Ryan and Corey sharing a tender hug. The background in red stands for love, and the blooming blue flower above them represents an organically blossoming romance. The crackled green leaf to the right of them symbolizes Ryan’s coming out, which Corey explains felt like a dream unfolding.”
Published Jul 1, 2020
Updated Sep 16, 2022
