Collin Martin, a midfielder for MLS soccer team Minnesota United, publicly announced that he's gay in a tweet on Friday.
Martin made the announcement hours before his team was scheduled to play a "Pride Night" game against Atlanta United.
According to Outsports, Martin becomes just the second MLS player to publicly come out as gay, following in the footsteps of Robbie Rogers.
Martin also follows in the footsteps of Michael Sam, the first out player to be drafted by an NFL team, and Jason Collins, the first active NBA player to announce he's gay.
Martin's full message can be read in its entirety below.
"Tonight my team, Minnesota United, is having their Pride night. It's an important night for me — I'll be announcing for the first time publicly that I am an openly gay player in Major League Soccer. I have been out as a gay man for many years to my family and friends, and this includes my teammates. I have played Major League Soccer for 6 seasons: 4 seasons with DC United and 2 seasons with Minnesota United. Today, I'm proud that my entire team and the management of Minnesota United know that I am gay. I have received only kindness and acceptance from everyone in Major League Soccer and that made the decision to come out publicly much easier.
As we celebrate Pride night, I want to thank my teammates for their unconditional support for who I am. In light of my experience as a professional athlete, I want to take this moment to encourage others who play sports professionally or otherwise to have confidence that sport will welcome them wholeheartedly. June is Pride month, and I am proud to be playing for Pride, and to be playing as an out gay man."
Tonight my team, @MNUFC , is having their Pride night. It's an important night for me — I'll be announcing that I am an openly gay player in Major League Soccer. #soccerforall pic.twitter.com/cOJQXfrBiv
— Collin Martin (@martcw12) June 29, 2018
Alex Hider is a writer for the E.W. Scripps National Desk. Follow him on Twitter @alexhider.
