[Kidder]

I don't have a lot to weight in on the matter, but have a relatable story to share.

In my final year of University I was starting goaltender of the hockey team. This was a Christian University I should add. And at the time there wasn't an openly gay student on campus.

Being gay myself I was struggling with the internal battle and with the support and recommendation of a trusted prof and friends, decided I would use the opportunity of a personal essay in class to open up and reveal my sexuality. My class was a small group of 25 or so students, but I knew that once shared, the news would spread like wildfire across campus.

The timing was unfortunate as our hockey team's regular season had just ended and we were preparing for playoffs. This was my biggest detractor in my coming-out decision. I didn't want to affect the team or cause a distraction. It caused me great stress and I regretted having to put all of us in this awkward situation.

The class was on a Friday, and after the revelation was complete I headed out of town for the weekend. On Monday evening we had a practice, and I purposely ensured I was the last one to the team van's meeting place just before departure. I drove the equipment van so didn't have to travel with the teammates, and I wondered what kind of discussion was going on in the player van.

Nothing was said prior to practice. I kept my head down and mouth shut as I whipped on my gear and hit the ice. Practice was business as usual.

We were the last team on the ice that day, so coming off the ice after practice the adjacent dressing room was unoccupied and open. Again, keeping my head down I ripped off my gear and grabbed my towel and went across the hall to the empty room so I could shower alone and leave everyone in the room a little less uncomfortable.

What happened next, was probably the nicest and most amazing gesture I've ever experienced in my life.

The two most veteran guys on the team, and unquestioned leaders, grabbed their towels and followed me across the hall to shower alongside me. I don't remember if anything much was said, certainly nothing about me being gay or my recent coming out, but the act itself was incredibly bold and brave and sent a clear message to myself and the rest of the team how we would all proceed from that point. Nothing had changed.

I actually just welled up a bit rethinking that moment. For a guy who was going through a personal Hell, their actions meant the world, and allowed me to put my focus back on Hockey, my one and only real passion at the time.

That's it, that's all I had to share.

But as some of you are probably wondering or asking, relating to this thread:

There were actually a few members on my team I considered highly attractive (a rarity, typically it'd be none or one at most). But no, I did not ogle or sexualize them in the lockerroom. I was there for one purpose. To play hockey. And I respect personal boundaries.

I assume the vast majority of athletes, especially professionals, conduct themselves in the same way.