In 1985, after years of fighting homosexual urges, he gave in and slept with another athlete. The gut wrenching decision to finally admit to himself that he was gay was too much for him and two weeks later he tried, and failed, to take his own life by leaping off Valhalla's Kensico Dam on March 1, 1985. The attempt left him a paraplegic. In an interview afterward, he said that he couldn’t resolve his inner conflicts of what he’d always been taught a sports athlete was supposed to be versus his sexual urges. So rather than face his own self-loathing and the expected judgment of his fans, he decided to end his own life. He later went on to found “Alive to Thrive.” He died May 4, 2005, of a heart condition.
Here is an honor roll of brave men and women who deserve respect for not only being honest with themselves and their fans, but whose lives were nearly destroyed because of that honesty.
Roy Simmons was an offensive guard between 1979 and 1983 for the New York Giants and Washington Redskins. He came out on The Donahue Show. He is one of only three NFL pros to acknowledge his homosexuality.
Back in 1975, David Kopay, a running back in the NFL between 1964 and 1972, came out of the closet three years after he retired. His 1977 autobiography, The David Kopay Story, became an instant best seller and flew off the shelves as sports fans got their first glimpse of a gay football star.
Kopay’s first lover was Washington Redskins all-star tight end Jerry Smith. From 1965-77, Smith caught 421 career passes and scored 60 touchdowns. He remained in the closet until he died in 1987, even after his affair was revealed in Kopay’s autobiography. Despite the revelation, he was voted one of the 70 greatest Redskins of all time in 2002.
In baseball, former As/Dodgers outfielder Glenn Burke is credited with being one of the inventors of the “high five.” Glenn came out in a 1982 Sports Illustrated article — three years after he was released from his contract with the As. It was rumored that he was traded to the As because Dodgers management suspected he was gay. The hatred and depression of ending his career at 26 led to drugs and he wound up a street person in the San Francisco Bay area, dying alone and broke in 1995.
Other needless past tragedies include:
“Big Bill” Tilden was considered a tennis legend and a much sought-after celebrity in the 1920s. In 1949, he was declared one of the most outstanding athletes of the first half-century by the National Sports Writers Association. He won seven U.S. clay court titles, seven U.S. Opens, three Wimbledons, six U.S. doubles championships, and holds the Davis Cup record for 11 appearances in a challenge or final round. Behind the scenes, Tilden wasn’t careful with his “secret” and, in his celebrity and fame, thought he was secure with his fans’ support. He began intimating to his close friends that he was gay and soon after, a behind the scenes 
conspiracy began to discredit him and ruin his reputation. In 1953, he died dirt poor in a one-room walk-up apartment, alone and forgotten.
Article comments
— go to most recent comments1 - Jet in Columbus
Many thanks for your editorial help Suss!
2 - Sister Ray
Doesn't the WNBA have a fair amount of openly gay athletes relative to professional sports? I'm straight and not much of a sports follower, but that's the imprression I get.
I think it's good that we don't tie athleticism into sexuality as much as we used to - if a woman liked sports she "must be gay," and if a man didn't care for sports he "must be gay." Those are outmoded stereotypes.
3 - chantal stone
great article, Jet
4 - Jet in Columbus
Thanks Chantal, believe it or not you can thank Suss for it. This and it's companion article used to be one big one that he suggested that I rearrange and it works much better that way.
I'm glad you enjoyed it, it means a lot to me coming from you and you already know that.
Solus mei sententia
Jet
5 - Jet in Columbus
Sister Ray, yes it does, but the article is so long now that I had to make cuts somewhere.
Perhaps in the sequel?
Thanks for your imput sweetie
Solus mei sententia
Jet
6 - savvyplanners.com
WOW! Such an impressive, factual, balanced, informative and refreshing piece. 90 percent of our clientele are GLBT people. I'd like to be able to link to your story from our blog.
You have enlightened me about the contributions of many pro athletes and illuminated the, often tragic, results of a GLBTi athlete's life led in darkness and secrecy. Thanks for the great read.
7 - Jet in Columbus
Thanks Savvy feel free, and let me know how it goes.
Jet
8 - Q Bit
Great article Jet!
I'm now less ignorant.
9 - Jet in Columbus
Thanks Q, I appreciate the encouragement!
10 - Jet in Columbus
As you can tell by the photos of the footballers (excuse the pun) the gay ones are rarely the ones you'd expect them to be. Makes you wonder about the current players doesn't it.
11 - savvyplanners.com
here's the savvy plannerslink, Jet.
Thanks,
Marcinho
12 - Jet in Columbus
I'm honored and grateful Savvy... Jet
13 - Jet in Columbus
Interesting that you'd use Esera Tuaolo's photo for the link, I'd have gone with Dave Kopay, but then we all have different ideas of what a hunk is... ha ha
Thanks again
14 - savvyplanners
TOO Funny! I chose Mr. Tuaolo because his name has been in the media most recently (Dang those "Kids" who don't remember Kopay!) LOL.
Thanks to you they may.
Thanks for cleaning up (activating)the link too. You ROCK! Have a good evening!
15 - Jet in Columbus
Did you check out the companion article on Mark Bingham and the links to stats for each athlete... Well except for Bob Paris of course, but I better not describe that one here, you'll just have to click on that one youself...
16 - John
A factual unbiased article about the fact that gay men are actully men among men, not the old false stereotype myth of the limp-wrist-long-nails sissy that has been senselessly passed from one generation to another.
17 - Jet in Columbus
Thank you John, you might like the links I provided for each athlete as well, and check out the article I did on Mark Bingham!
Much appreciated...
Jet
18 - Jet in Columbus
John 16-Esera Tuaolo will probably appreciate that
19 - Jet in Columbus
Oh and by the way if you REALLY want to see something click on Bob Paris' link!!!
20 - Andy Marsh
good read Jet.
Let's not get all testy when I ask this question...
Is it really necessary to have a gay games? The way I read the post, it sounds like these athletes want or wanted exceptance...does calling yourself out with things like the gay games...or gay pride day and stuff like that really make you feel included or excepted? Are there hetero games or hetero pride days?
It just seems to me that wearing a big sign that says what you are...no matter what it is...is just asking for trouble...
think about it...even here at BC...there are people that give some people shit for never serving in the military and those same people give other people shit that DID serve...so...it seems to me, that any label you put on your self is just asking some other group to fuck with you...but that's just me...
one more thing...I seriously doubt you were appalled to find out that pro athletes stay in the closet until their careers are over...unless you've been in a real closet with the doors locked for the last...what...50 some years???
21 - chantal stone
Andy...I understand where you're coming from with your comment. The same question can be asked (and has been right here on BC) during events like Black History Month, or other culturally exclusive events---why is it necessary to single out a certain group for recognition?
Well, here's my answer: because for far too long, certain people would have preferred (and still do) that these certain groups be neither seen nor heard. And until people among these minority groups feel the same amount of equality, acceptance and recognition as do their mainstream counterparts, they will always be there to say "WE ARE HERE".
And it's time the "mainstream" gets over itself and accepts it.
22 - Mary K. Williams
Chantal and Andy - you both make some sense. On the one hand, sometimes it is the better choice to lay low - so to speak.
But Chantal - I understand this pendulum effect. To create equality, we need to see exactly who and what is at risk of never being heard. Because things in certain areas have been very one-sided - focus must swing hard the other way. Sometimes it takes years - generations - lifetimes - for things to come to rest in the middle.
23 - Jet in Columbus
Andy, rather than give a rather lengthy response, I've written a new article entitled "Dear Andy" watch for it, it's being reviewed as we speak.
Thanks
Jet
24 - Jet in Columbus
Dear Chantal, well that covered about a third of my new article in one paragraph.
Thanks sweetie
25 - Jet in Columbus
Mary 22-God I hope it doesn't take THAT long!