Track Star Jamal Brown Describes Coming Out at Dartmouth

Jamal Brown, the openly gay track star who recently graduated from prestigious Dartmouth College, shares his coming out story with Outsports. Brown first came to our attention as one of several black openly gay jocks in the Fearless Campus Tour, a photo retrospective of out high school and collegiate athletes by Jeff Sheng. The handsome Ivy League grad writes a poignant essay about being closeted and "arriving at an institution with a long history of homophobia as well as racism."

Gays were visible in campus politics and student life but barely on varsity or club teams. Some lesbian women competed openly, and out all-American lacrosse goalie and a friend of mine, Andrew Goldstein, was a senior my freshman year. Still, as an African American, I had no gay person of color to look up to. That along with the fact that I have feminine mannerisms and don’t always exude a masculine persona made it difficult to be accepted by teammates. In the past, the track team had several out gay athletes on its roster, and some of them quit or were reluctant to embrace the gay athlete identity because of homophobic backlash. I knew that if I came out there was no obligation to work towards inclusion of gay athletes nor serve as a role model for athletes coming to terms with their sexuality. But I knew that the only reason there was even an ounce of potential for me to come out was the bold and courageous acts of the Andrew Goldsteins and Billy Jean Kings who came out before me. I knew that the only way to be comfortable with myself would be to be myself.

One evening after practice, I built up the strength to finally come out to my team. Apprehensive about how I should go about the process, I decided to take advantage of the Internet and declared being interested in men on Facebook. The next day at practice during warm-ups, one of my teammates approached me and said he liked my Facebook updates. Curious if he was referring to my newly stated sexual preference or another random update, I asked him to clarify, and he responded, "J. Brown, you’re OK here. Be yourself. Know that you are in for a long journey, but your team is here for you, man."

Jamal Brown's full essay is at Outsports. After graduation last year, Brown has worked as an activist at Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders (GLAD) in Boston. Next month, Jamal Brown will be a part of Out magazine's Out 100. Bravo and congratulations.

Comments

[Jonathan L]

This is a beautiful man and his story is just as beautiful.

[CD Wright]

God bless Jamal Brown. He is being open with his sexuality and admits he does not and did not want to put on that hyper masculine thug front. Or that DL nonsense. Congrats.

[Michael Crawford]

Rod,

Thanks for the post on my new husband!

Okay, I have to meet him first, fend off all of the other gays trying to get with him, convince him that I am the one and move us to Cali or Massachusetts.

No big task.

[Allen H]

That is too funny, Michael. Jamal is both sexy and an inspiration.

Oh and love your blog.

[S. Flemming]

Great post ... good for him. The more happy black gay men we see, the better.

[nahtans]

Yeah he is delish good for him that he chose to be himself.

[Mel Smith]

Thanks for sharing that great story. Jamal is handsome.

[Bill]

This is beautiful. This is the reason for Noah's Arc and other positive representations in media. An intelligent, articulate, out Black, gay man.

[ff]

thanks Rod. Cute guy and a great story

[Stephanie]

Congratulations!!!!

[Patrick]

He can marry me anytime