Major League Soccer player Collin Martin comes out as gay
Martin came out publicly on Twitter prior to Minnesota United's Pride Night
America once again has an openly gay athlete in one of its major league sports.
Collin Martin, a midfielder for Major League Soccer team Minnesota United, came out on Twitter prior to United hosting a “Pride Match” to show support for their LGBTQ fans.
“Tonight my team, Minnesota United, is having their Pride night,” Martin wrote. “It’s an important night for me — I’ll be announcing for the first time publicly that I am an openly gay player in Major League Soccer.”
In his tweet, Martin, 22, noted that he had been “out as a gay man for many years” to his family and friends, as well as his teammates.
“Today, I’m proud that my entire team and the management of Minnesota United know that I am gay,” he said. “I have received only kindness and acceptance from everyone in Major League Soccer and that has made the decision to come out publicly that much easier.”
Tonight my team, @MNUFC , is having their Pride night. It's an important night for me — I'll be announcing that I am an openly gay player in Major League Soccer. #soccerforall pic.twitter.com/cOJQXfrBiv
— Collin Martin (@martcw12) June 29, 2018
Martin, raised in Chevy Chase, Md., played for DC United for four years prior to joining Minnesota. His announcement makes him MLS’s second openly gay player, after LA Galaxy’s Robbie Rogers, who came out in 2013 and retired last year.
Rogers congratulated Martin on his announcement, tweeting: “Love this! So so inspiring thank you Collin! Good luck this season, except against the LA Galaxy.”
Love this! So so inspiring thank you Colin! Good luck this season, except against the @LAGalaxy https://t.co/trkAO9YI2i
— Robbie Rogers (@robbierogers) June 29, 2018
Martin also called for other athletes to embrace their sexuality, saying he wanted to “encourage others who play sports professionally or otherwise to have confidence that sport will welcome them wholeheartedly.”
In a follow-up tweet after his initial announcement, he said he was “overwhelmed” by the positive response to his coming out.
“I’m truly overwhelmed by the messages and support I’ve received thus far,” Martin tweeted. “I wish I could respond to each and every one of you. Please know your words mean a lot to me and they make me confident that I made the right choice.”
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