MLB Player David Denson, after keeping it for so long, finally came to terms with himself and came out, revealing not just to his team mates but to the public that he is gay.
The 20-year-old minor leaguer admitted, when he reached out to the Journal Sentinel to share his story, that he didn't do it because he was trying to be brave.
He did it because he couldn't hide it anymore, and the response he got from those people around him was surprisingly overwhelming.
"I was shaking and crying, and just very scared," Denson said. "I didn't know if it would go good or bad, or if they'd look at me any different."
After confessing his sexuality, his teammates assured him that nothing has changed, and that his ability has nothing to do with his sexuality.
"We don't treat you any different," they told him. "We've got your back."
Denson recalled that hiding it got to the point where he became depressed. He admitted that his game was compromised.
He sought advice from Becky Schnakenberg, a professional counselor contracted for the Milwaukee Brewers, concerning his mental health. The publication learned that the consultations he had convinced him to tell his teammates about his sexuality.
Denson said he felt like a different person and player since he came out. Apparently, everything is working well for him.
In August, he was selected for Pioneer League All-Star Game. He hit a home run and was chosen as the MVP of the game.
He has one goal, and that is to make it to the Major League. New York Times learned from the senior writer for MLB Pipeline Jim Callis, that Denson had enough power to make it to the majors but needed to improve as a hitter.
Meanwhile, it seems that things turned out differently for Michael Sam. Being the first openly gay player to be drafted in NFL, Sam took a break from the professional football reportedly due to "mental health" issues.
Sam was drafted among the last picks of NFL. After which, he tried out for St. Louis Rams, then was reportedly hired by Dallas Cowboys for their practice team.
He was dropped by the Cowboys, but was picked up by CFL. However, in June, the 25-year-old athlete took a leave of absence for personal reasons.
It wasn't clear what these mental issues were, nor were they disclosed. There are speculations of him having homophobia.
Others claimed that he was not enjoying the gay lifestyle. The reasons may not be clear, but according to Charisma News, the young football player could be hurting and needs help.
