Orlando Cruz "I am a proud gay man"

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Featherweight Orlando Cruz, a 2000 Puerto Rican Olympian and a fringe contender as a professional fighter, has done something unusual in boxing, or in any professional sport: He has publicly announced he is gay.

Cruz, 31, the first openly gay fighter, released a statement in which he called himself a "proud gay man." He told The Associated Press in an interview that he is relieved about his decision but had initial reservations.

"I developed physically and mentally to take such a big step in my life and in my profession, which is boxing, knowing that it would have pros and cons, highs and lows in this sport that is so macho," he said. "I kept this hidden for many, many years."

Cruz (18-2-1, 9 KOs), a pro since December 2000, lost back-to-back fights in 2009 and '10, getting knocked out in the fifth round by Cornelius Lock and then in the third round by Daniel Ponce De Leon, who won a world featherweight title on Sept. 15.

Cruz won his next two bouts and is scheduled to face Jorge Pazos (20-4, 13 KOs) on Oct. 19 in the main event of a Telemundo-televised card in Kissimmee, Fla.

Cruz said in his statement that he was tired of hiding who he really was.

"I don't want to hide any of my identities," he said. "I want people to look at me for the human being that I am. I am a professional sportsman that always brings his best to the ring. I want for people to continue to see me for my boxing skills, my character, my sportsmanship. But I also want kids who suffer from bullying to know that you can be whoever you want to be in life, including a professional boxer, that anything is possible and that who you are or whom you love should not be impediment to achieving anything in life.

"I want to thank my family, especially my mom, who's my inspiration and my best reason to continue to live and my brother and my sister. I want to thank my friends for their love and support. And I also want to thank my team for believing in me and being so supportive not only in this decision, but throughout my career. I am and will always be a proud Puerto Rican gay man."

Cruz said he met with psychologists and others before making the announcement, adding he has the full support of his family, trainer and manager. He praised his mother and sister for their unconditional love and said his father has always backed him.

"Like every father, he wants his son to be a full-blooded man," Cruz said. "But he is aware of my preference, my taste."

Few active professional athletes have come out. There has yet to be an openly gay player in Major League Baseball, the NBA or NFL.

Pedro Julio Serrano, spokesman for the U.S.-based National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, praised Cruz for his decision and said it breaks stereotypes that gay people are not involved in sports like boxing.

"It also gives a lot of hope to young gays who can see in him the integrity and bravery to be who you are and face a society that is often intolerant, especially in this type of sport," he said.

Reaction to Cruz's announcement was largely positive across social media, with many praising him for taking what they called a brave step given the sport's violent history. Among those who sent messages of support was Puerto Rican singer Ricky Martin, who announced he was gay in 2010.

Some Twitter messages expressed concern for Cruz's safety and wondered whether other boxers will be reluctant to fight him. Dommys Delgado, president of the Boxing Commission of Puerto Rico, brushed aside those comments.

"Orlando has proven to be an excellent boxer with very good chances of becoming a world champion," she said. "We do know that it is a very macho sport. Those who don't want to fight with him, well, don't fight."

The only other professional boxer who was quoted as saying that he had relations with men and women was U.S. Virgin Islander Emile Griffith, who told The New York Times in 2005 that he struggled with his sexuality. His comments came decades after he ended his 18-year career as a pro boxer.

Griffith is well-known for his 1962 fight against Cuban Benny Paret, who taunted Griffith with gay slurs before the bout. Griffith knocked him out, and Paret died 10 days later. Griffith is also a former middleweight champion and a Hall of Famer.

Cruz said he is prepared for the fallout from his announcement, saying many boxers had already suspected he was gay but gave him privacy.

"I've been fighting for more than 24 years and as I continue my ascendant career, I want to be true to myself," he said. "I have always been and always will be a proud gay man."

http://espn.go.com/boxing/story/_/id/8460484/puerto-rican-featherweight-orlando-cruz-comes-proud-gay-man

Congrats for him for coming out but Im shocked he didnt wait until he was retired to do it first.

timthebim wrote:

Congrats for him for coming out but Im shocked he didnt wait until he was retired to do it first.

Well what would be the point in that though ? perhaps he's trying to inspire other athletes or maybe mentally it was bothering him.

Either way good for him.

Ali wrote:

timthebim wrote:

Congrats for him for coming out but Im shocked he didnt wait until he was retired to do it first.

Well what would be the point in that though ? perhaps he's trying to inspire other athletes or maybe mentally it was bothering him.

Either way good for him.

The point is most guys wait so they arent treated different by people who dont agree with that kind of life style. So it was alittle surprising to me he came out right now.

Great..now when he gets his ass mauled...it's a hate crime.

KingsOwn19 wrote:

Great..now when he gets his ass mauled...it's a hate crime.