Sports presenter Israel Gutierrez comes out in emotional blog
ESPN host Israel Gutierrez has come out as gay – and engaged! – in an emotionally-charged blog.
His post documents his long struggle with self-acceptance and the story of how he met his soon-to-be-husband, David Kitchen.
Heartbreakingly, he recalls how every birthday he would “blow out my birthday candles with the same wish: ‘Please don’t let me be gay’.”
He credits the openness of Welsh rugby hero Gareth Thomas with helping him understand he wasn’t alone, writing: “Thomas’ story was so compelling, and had so many similar notes to my own, it made me wonder how many young men and women are still having to go through this same existence. Hiding yourself from yourself.”
Gutierrez is out to his friends and family already, but admits: “There are still plenty of moments when I feel like I have to hide myself.
“For example, I’ve gone to the same barber for 15 years. I love going to the shop, having great conversations with everyone in the room. But it’s also a devoutly Christian core of people that I speak with. Their dedication to the church is exemplary, and it’s possible I’ve heard some comments about homosexuality that I vehemently disagree with.
“But I hold back because I know these are great people with good hearts and are merely echoing what they’ve been taught.”
Along similar lines, he adds: “Then there are moments when I’m so angry, I temporarily lose faith in people. Like when my partner went to a bar in Key Largo with a couple of good friends and was told, ‘get out of here, faggot,’ by another patron.
“It’s a reminder like that one that make holding my partner’s hand in public absolutely frightening for me. Still. But I will get past that. And this will help.”
At the end of the piece, he concludes: “I’m confident that now that this is out in the open, I can deliver an even better version of my professional self. Happiness tends to bring out the best in a person. And I’m so happy right now.”
The couple are set to tie the knot next week.
I literally don't know what it is I've been feeling for the past 4 hours. Just know that everyone's love and support has been overwhelming.
— Izzy Gutierrez (@IzGutierrez) September 4, 2015
https://twitter.com/IzGutierrez/status/639910848350322688