Derrick Gordon is 1st Openly Gay Male Division I College Basketball Player

Derrick Gordon, a guard for the UMass Mintemen, just announced that he is gay. Gordon is the first openly gay male athlete in Division I college basketball. He made the announcement on ESPN. Gordon, a sophomore, averaged 9.4 ppg starting at guard for UMass last season. He sat out the prior season after transferring from Western Kentucky.

According to ESPN, Gordon told his teammates on April 2 after telling his parents and UMass coach Derek Kellogg. “It was a rough process, actually, leading up to this,” he told ESPN. “Those guys just helped me get to where I am right now. If it wasn’t for them, I’d be stuck. For this to be happening right now, me coming out, it’s an indescribable feeling, honestly. I couldn’t be any happier. I feel like I can fly.”

Earlier this year, former Missouri defensive lineman Michael Sam announced that he was gay. Sam might get selected in next month’s NFL draft, and would be the first openly gay NFL football player.