iradiophilly | Sports - Will Sheridan, Former Villanova F, Reveals He is Gay

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Will Sheridan, Former Villanova F, Reveals He is Gay

by: iradioal - Philadelphia, PA
started: 05/17/11 12:39 am | updated: 05/18/11 12:09 pm

Following his music video debut from last month (Welcome to the Jungle, click here), former Villanova basketball player Will Sheridan recently sat down with ESPN's Dana O'Neill, publicly coming out of the closet.

It doesn't come as much surprise that WIll is gay. Anyone in the Philadelphia area that follows Big 5 basketball probably knew. If you were a Villanova student anytime around the years that Sheridan was on campus you would have known. He hid it in plain sight, and was comfortable with who he was, even dating another male student at another Philadelphia school (although secretly). He never outright said "I'm gay" to the world, but he wasn't shy about showing his style and creativity, in the way that always gets people to think twice and have a suspicion.

However, when the question of an athlete's sexuality exists, especially in a high profile men's team sport, where locker room chemistry, bravado, ego, and perhaps fear/ignorance also exist, that balance is very easily upset and that question misunderstood. Sheridan managed to keep that balance stable. He came out to his freshman year roommate Mike Nardi early on. Eventually the entire team and coach would know. Villanova's locker room did not implode over the years he was there ('03-'07) making 3 NCAA tournaments, a Sweet 16 and Elite 8 despite his orientation.

Only now is this news official to the public, even if we had our notions before, and Sheridan can say "I'm proud of who I am". At some point this won't be news, but there is still the stigma especially in the major sports about being gay while you are playing.

For more in depth about Will and his decision to come out, read Dana O'Neill's report on ESPN:
http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/columns/story?columnist=oneil_dana&id=6488036

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(1) response

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by: iradiotom - Philadelphia, PA | responded: 05/18 12:09 pm

And now CNN anchor Don Lemon announces he is gay and encourages others to come out of the closet. Don Lemon comes out in his upcoming memoir "Transparent." He says, "there's a degree of deception in silence."
"I equate it to people who used to pass for white during the civil rights movement. It's disingenuous and dishonest and you should live in truth and give a hand to people who are struggling and help pull them up rather than turning your back on them."

Lemon was surprised how big the reaction has been.
"I had no idea it would hit this big," but now that word is out, "I can just continue to be a good journalist and a good citizen."

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