Out of Bounds

Former professional football player Roy Simmons officially "came out" to millions on a television talk show. One day in 1992, almost seven years after his retirement from the NFL, he appeared on Donahue with a former girlfriend to discuss his secret lifestyle. At the time, he was only the second NFL player to come out post-retirement. (Dave Kopay came out in '75, and later, Esera Tuaolo in 2002.) A decade later, Simmons revealed that he was HIV-positive, a first for a pro NFL player. Recently, Roy Simmons has admitted that it was an addiction to cocaine that cost him his pro-football career. That addiction took him from playing ball in Superbowl XVIII ... to turning tricks on the streets of San Francisco for crack cocaine.

The humbling story of Roy Simmons is now fully explained in an eagerly anticipated new autobiography, Out of Bounds. The book just rolled off the presses last week and we just received our review copy over the weekend. At only 276 pages, it's a compelling, easy read. The January issue of Out excerpts several juicy passages, including Simmons' descriptions of his sexy locker room mates from the Giants and Redskins, including the one whom he shared some sexin'. Those passages are uploaded here and here. Simmons recounts the one time that he had sex with a team mate at the Giants (also on the offensive line) and speculates about other players that set off his gaydar, including two players whom he thought were a couple. "They were too buddy-buddy to be a heterosexual friendship. They waited for each other to come out of the shower in the locker room, waited for each other to come out of practice ... they were insepearable."

Even though many of us have had our own pro-football player fantasies, Simmons bio does not read like a dream come true. It's a graphic description of a young life that was shaped by neglect and sexual abuse and cut short by a constant flirtation with danger. At eleven years old, a neighbor raped him; Simmons later returned to his abuser and accepted cash for these sessions. His freshman year at Georgia Tech, Roy began frequenting sex clubs near campus. Although the thrill of discovery ran high, "I have to admit that I was excited. Excited and very, very curious."

Simmons was drafted by the Giants in 1979. New York's sexual underground of the 1970s and 80s was a perfect environment to mature his edgy appetite for sex and drugs. Some of the places mentioned are the lore of cultural anthropology; Plato's Retreat, Badlands, the Everard. The offensive lineman lead a classic double life; squiring women during the day, seeking sex with men late at night. All the while, no one was the wiser. "It's easy for a gay person to hide out in the open when everyone else in the world is convinced you're straight."

After just a few seasons, Simmons was later cut by the Giants. The pinnacle of his NFL career was Super Bowl XVIII in 1984. He was playing for the Redskins when they faced the Raiders. By that time, Roy Simmons was a train wreck. Maureen Orth of The New York Times describes that day:

Among the posse of some 20 family members and friends he had invited to Tampa to watch him play in the 1984 Super Bowl were his three current lovers—two women and one man. They were all staying at the same hotel, and each required attention that even Mr. Simmons, a 290-pound offensive lineman for the Washington Redskins known for his speed, found exhausting. To keep his furtive gay life a secret, he had cultivated a reputation for being the life of the party. He constantly juggled deception and compartmentalization, while placating those of both sexes closest to him.

"But what she didn't add was being the life of the party always comes at a heavy price," Simmons writes. "I didn't pay that tab. My friends and family did. You have to read between the lines." Post Super Bowl, Simmons story becomes even more desperate; he throws his career away for drugs, fathers a daughter that he never really knows, escapes to San Francisco to trick on the streets, attempts suicide, fails rehab several times ... the story reads more like the bio of a former circuit boy or porn star than a promising sports hero. Particularly sad is the fact that Simmons doesn't even have his Super Bowl ring; a trick stole it just days after it was presented to him.

Roy Simmons isolation was compounded by the additional stigma of homosexuality among blacks; its even more depressing for gay black athletes. "Almost all of them suffered through tragedy or controversy," noted Keith Boykin when he essayed the sad plight of many gay black athletes who came out of the closet. The hyper-masculine atmosphere of black team sports almost prevents an open discussion of sexuality. "You're black, you're an athlete, you're a Man with a capital M, and this is what you do," says Randy Boyd, a black gay columnist at Outsports and author of the new Walt Loves the Bearcat. Keith's essay was a fascinating homework assignment; he backgrounds the cases of British soccer star Justin Fashanu, pro bodybuilder Chris Dickerson and Olympic track athlete Derrick Peterson, none of which have had happy endings. So far, the reaction to Sheryl Swoopes' disclosure has been muted and its too early to tell what her admission may cost.

Nowadays, it's quite fashionable among many gays to suggest that "coming out" is a magic elixir for many of the problems that Roy Simmons suffered. Given the raging homophobia in pro team sports—especially among black players in the NFL and NBA—and the tragic track record of many gay black athletes who have come out of the closet, there would have been no incentive for him or players in similar predicaments to be honest. But that doesn't mean his is not an important story; on the contrary, it's vital to our community and should be required reading. Out of Bounds is a wonderful autobiography because in the spirit of recovery, its about progress and not perfection. Its searing honesty reminds us that life isn't always picture-perfect ... especially for those whom we idolize.

An editorial note: Out of Bounds was co-written with Damon Dimarco and the editor is Don Wiese at Carroll & Graf. Don was recently named to the Out 100 for his work bringing lgbt concerns to print.

• Out of Bounds (Amazon)
• Fast Times, Wild Nights Parts 1 and 2 (Out)
• Out of the Locker Room and the Closet (NYT)
• Black Gay Athletes (Keith Boykin)
• Tired of Having to Pretend (Rod 2.0)

Comments

[johnozed]

Glad to see you back in action and up and running. Incredible story of Roy Simmons too.

[greg]

WELCOME BACK! This is a great story. I remember hearing about Roy comimng out on Donahue, but havent heard what happened to him.

We miss you, but the wait has been worth it. (smile)

[Michael]

That's a truly sad story. It's a shame that most of the black gay athlete coming out stories have been tragic. Hopefully it gets better.

[patrick s]

Read about his story in the New York Times a few years ago. Its good to see that he is turning his life around.

And welcome back! We missed you. This is a great site.

[GreggQ]

This is very interesting and very sad; maybe things will become better for gay black athletes.

[TBoi]

I was a young and budding professional "in the know" and remember well those days when Roy, et al would travel during football season and sponsor those VVPP (Very, Very, Private Parties). He is not by himself there are many other athletes from the past that are still on the DL. It's good to know that he is still with us and making the grade. For too long black athletes then and now are subject to a vow of silence that usually leads them to destruction in many ways. Hats off to you Roy!!

ROD, where in the HELL have you been?? Did I approve an unscheduled vacation or something??

Missed being superbly INFO TAINED by your luscious magazine.

Happy Holidays to you and all of your readers.

[HMilton]

ROD 2.0, Thanks so much for this article on Roy Simmons. Too many of us stay in the closet way too long. How will society learn to deal with this issue if they don't know who and how many are in the struggle.

Reading this article and after watching a re-broadcast of Oprah, last night, I know just what my New Years Resolution is going to be. I've been trapped in the closet too long. It's time for me to be happy.

Continue bringing the truth to the surface. Happy Holidays to all.

[Amore70]

Welcome back Rod!!! It's been too long. Isn't this the same Roy Simmons, ex-NFLer who was on the 700 Club earlier this year saying he was "no longer gay"? I guess the money from a book deal is very enticing.

[Marcus Wes]

I have had
Sex with big TV star's
& Movie star
over pass 10 years
a total of five guys

[Nathaniel Barnes]

We DO need to talk!
You've inspired me ( now it IS my turn to inspire you).
email me ... please

Xhaviar2003@yahoo.com

[Boogie]

I might have to check that book out...

[LONGSHOT]

Unfortunately, another story of a Black Man....who comes out but was "molested and abused"....

[Randy Boyd]

Rod, thanks for highlighting Roy's book. His story is crucial to the American experience. It is time the world heard from black men, and from men in sports who love other men, and hear us loud! Our stories and hearts and dreams have just as much worth as the stories, hearts and dreams of the rest of the world. Touchdown.

[Regi]

Hey
you are a true hero. Love your story. maybe we can talk over coffee.

Regi

[courtney whitaker]

To whom it May Concern.

I thought that I had sent you an important email regarding Brian Pumper's new ambitions and contact numbers. I want to know if you are interested in interviewing him. You won't have to pay me...but you will have to pay him. He is trying to market his music cd and his new self-directed films. The attention from fan clubs are flattering but not helping to finance his dreams. It is time to for him to reveal things for a fee. Hey...we all need money!

[rich]

simply the best site i have been on in a long time

[WB]

Did you all not see his conversion to Christianity and his touting now being an "ex-gay" at the 700 club website?

[Eric]

Roy Simmons' secret lifestyle is a classic case of bisexuality, not homosexuality as depicted in all the articles and his own account. The articles reported very clearly and consistently his former sex life with both genders.
Account of his conversion to Christianity can be found at:
http://www.cbn.com/700club/features/
sports_roy_simmons.asp
Perculiar to note Phil Donohue's description of Roy as one who is "now and always has been gay", thus setting off the confusion that Roy is considered "gay" instead of bisexual; and that Roy is still "gay" (not "ex-gay" as reported) even after his conversion to Christianity.