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"Since he came out to me, we haven't missed a beat," she said. Messersmith's mother, Chantelle, expressed how proud she was of her son. "If my story can help other people accept themselves, that's all I want," he said. He believes that he can become a role model, encouraging people to be confident with who they are. Messersmith said that since his announcement became a national story he's received hundreds of emails supporting how "brave" he was and a plenty of positive feedback on social media networks. As an institution we treat students with respect and sensitivity."
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Obviously, it would be inappropriate for us to discuss the private lives of students. Messersmith grew up Mormon but said he is not currently practicing any religion.īenedictine athletic director Charlie Gartenmayer and men's basketball coach Ryan Moody issued a statement on Messersmith's announcement: "We support Jallen as a Benedictine College student and as a member of the Raven basketball team. It's good that we have that type of relationship."īenedictine, a 2,000-student school, is affiliated with the Roman Catholic Church, which condemns homosexual acts but teaches that gay individuals should be treated with respect, compassion and sensitivity. We give him a hard time, but we're just kidding. "We had a couple of his boyfriends attend our home games. "He's pretty open about going on dates with other men," Fisher said. Nothing's changed between us, and now I can truly be myself."įisher said Messersmith has become very open with his dating life to the rest of the team and that he likely scores more dates than anyone on the team. I didn't want it to affect the team chemistry. Once I told my teammates and they were supportive, I didn't care who found out. Each time I told someone, a little weight was lifted off my shoulders. Then I told my parents, who were 100% supportive. "I didn't want something that was such a big part of me to be hidden," he said. Messersmith said he first started to feel "different" in high school but that it wasn't until one of his teammates died in a car accident that he was inspired to fully accept and open up about his sexuality.
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Sooner or later, a player being gay is not going to be a big deal." "It's been really comforting to see other (athletes) be comfortable in themselves with who they are," Messersmith said. soccer player Robbie Rogers returning to the MLS. Messersmith's announcement comes on the heels of Jason Collins coming out as the first actively gay NBA player, WNBA player Brittney Griner telling USA TODAY Sports she was a lesbian, and openly-gay U.S. If you're comfortable, I'm comfortable.' They've told me that they have my back if I ever need it." They were like, 'Dude, it doesn't change anything. "Everybody eventually knew it, it was understood." "There was never a big sit-down with my teammates where I was like, 'Here's the thing, I'm gay.' I sort of just let the news spread," said Messersmith, 20, from Blue Springs, Mo. That was the first time the two friends addressed Messersmith's sexual orientation. I told him if anyone has something (negative) to say, we've got his back." "We're on the same team, he's basically like a family member. Jallen knows that I wouldn't stoop down that low," said Fisher, Benedictine College's point guard. Fisher almost immediately apologized, not wanting to offend his friend. Messersmith, who was fourth in NAIA in shot blocking as sophomore, recalled his friend and teammate, Brett Fisher, once saying a gay slur nonchalantly in passing. Messersmith told USA TODAY Sports on Wednesday that he informed his coaches of his sexual orientation last summer before revealing he was gay to his teammates before last season.
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Messersmith, a 6-foot-7 college basketball player for Benedictine College in Atchison, Kan., is believed to be the first openly gay active player in U.S. He still hears the "you're gay" and "that's gay" and other slurs. They first started in middle school when the bullying was so brutal that he decided to be home-schooled in 7th and 8th grade. Jallen Messersmith has been hearing gay slurs all his life.