David Denson has become the first MLB-affiliated player to publicly announce that he is gay during his playing career.
The 20-year-old first baseman, who currently plays for the Milwaukee Brewers' minor-league affiliate side Helena, decided to come out after a teammate jokingly made a derogatory term for a gay male.
He told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: "Talking with my teammates, they gave me the confidence I needed, coming out to them. They said, 'You're still our teammate. You're still our brother. We kind of had an idea, but your sexuality has nothing to do with your ability. You're still a ballplayer at the end of the day. We don't treat you any different. We've got your back.' That was a giant relief for me.
"I wasn't doing it to be brave. I just couldn't hide it anymore. For them to be so accepting and want the best for me, it showed they are looking at me for my ability, not my sexuality. They don't treat me any different. They said if there was anything they could do to help, let them know. It was a huge relief.
"Coming out to my father was even harder than coming out to my teammates, because I knew how he felt about it. He grew up in sports, and I heard him talk about gay guys. That was hard for me to hear at the time. But I'm his son and he said, 'It's your life and it's who you are. I love you.' There's a difference between accepting it, and supporting it and respecting it. I know he loves me and supports me and has my back."
The Brewers selected Denson in the 15th round of the 2013 Draft.
Sian Cowper
