CNN
—
As he begins to debate his sexuality, says he is ready to raise 25 years of weight off his shoulders.
Humphries, who performs for Melbourne United in Australia’s Nationwide Basketball League, had by no means beforehand spoken publicly about his sexuality out of concern it might negatively impression his profession.
However now, he says he feels able to “dwell my true life” and turn into the world’s solely brazenly homosexual man taking part in top-flight basketball.
“Ceaselessly, I assumed that being an expert basketball participant and homosexual have been mutually unique and that I needed to disguise that facet of my life and wasn’t allowed to be who I really am,” Humphries completely tells CNN Sport’s Amanda Davies.
“I’m making the choice to return out … as a result of I consider that I might be who I’m in my setting, and I can change the trajectory of how we view being homosexual in sport.”
In 2013, former NBA participant Jason Collins grew to become the primary brazenly homosexual athlete in one of many 4 main North American sports activities leagues when he got here out late in his profession.
Extra not too long ago, Josh Cavallo, who performs for Adelaide United in Australia’s A League, grew to become the one present brazenly homosexual top-flight male soccer participant when he came out last year.
As for Humphries, he says coming to phrases along with his sexuality drove him to a “very darkish” and “very lonely” place earlier than feeling snug sufficient to return out.
“My self-hate, my self-homophobia – all the things in that realm was very, very actual inside my mind and it acquired so darkish that I completely considered exiting this world,” he provides.
“I didn’t need to exist like this, I didn’t assume I used to be allowed to exist like this inside my basketball world.”
Nevertheless it was his love of basketball that Humphries says saved his life, along with the notion that he may assist others in an identical place.
Whereas he says his Melbourne United workforce is “so accepting” and that he feels “honored and privileged” to play basketball, the six-foot, 11-inch middle factors to the locker-room environment as one of many boundaries to feeling snug as a homosexual man within the sport.
“The setting could be very masculine,” says Humphries. “It’s not as progressive as the remainder of the world. It’s slightly bit again in time in these locker rooms. It’s talked about fairly negatively, the thought of being homosexual.
“It’s our working setting on the finish of the day,” he provides. “We’re there each single day and we turn into a household. Why wouldn’t they need their relations to be snug inside their setting?”
The 24-year-old Humphries has skilled totally different sporting environments throughout the globe, beforehand taking part in Division 1 NCAA school basketball for the Kentucky Wildcats earlier than stints within the NBA, the G-League and in Europe.
He returned to Australia to play for the Adelaide 36ers in 2020 after which signed for Melbourne earlier this yr.
Humphries has discovered his type prior to now 4 video games, averaging 16.8 factors, 6.5 rebounds and 1.8 blocks per recreation, however he says it was whereas in Los Angeles final yr that he was capable of really feel completely happy about his sexuality after seeing members of the LGBTQ+ group residing in a optimistic setting for the primary time.
He says taking the choice to return out has modified his life immeasurably.
“I’ve a weight lifted off my shoulders, 25 years of weight,” says Humphries.
“And it’s not just a bit weight – it’s deep-rooted emotions and weight that get to be lifted from you – it’s euphoric. It’s a tremendous feeling to simply not have to cover each single day, to not need to faux, to not need to make up tales and lies.
“I’m basically beginning a brand new life – it’s like a birthday,” he provides. “I can’t consider that is occurring; from how darkish I used to be to now could be evening and day. I’m tremendous grateful for that.”
