The Amazing Thing That Happened When This College Football Star Came Out As Gay

"It was the acceptance from my teammates that I will remember," says Luke McAvoy, who hid his secret for years. "I wish I came out sooner."

OutSports

There is something unique about discussing the merits of gay marriage while in the locker room showers with 11 other naked men, but that is where I found myself during my sophomore year at the University of Minnesota in 2012.

We had just finished a morning workout and the topic had been making its way around the locker room all week. I could not tell you anything my teammates said during the discussion, since all I could hear was the yelling in my head: "I AM GAY, HOW HAVE YOU NOT FOUND OUT?"

Your Support Has Never Been More Critical

Other news outlets have retreated behind paywalls. At HuffPost, we believe journalism should be free for everyone.

Would you help us provide essential information to our readers during this critical time? We can't do it without you.

Can't afford to contribute? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.

Support HuffPost

Your Support Has Never Been More Critical

From Our Partner

More In Queer Voices

A Ted Cruz Ad Used This Man's Image To Fearmonger. Now He's Speaking Out.

JD Vance Claims 'Normal Gay Guys' Support Trump And, Oh, The Clapback

Why Queer Americans Are Leaving The Only Homes Theyve Ever Known

Michael Urie's 'Shrinking' Role Explores How Coming Out Can Change Old Friendships

Daniel Craig Embraces Uncharted Love In Steamy New 'Queer' Trailer

Shawn Mendes Makes Candid Statement About His Sexuality At Colorado Concert

Why Trumps Latest Attack On Kamala Harris Is Working With His Base

Durand Bernarr Doesn't Really Care About Winning Grammys

Blue States Are Trying To Get Ahead Of Supreme Court's Next Possible Target

Ginger Minj Is Back With A 'Hocus Pocus' Tribute That's Sure To Put A Spell On You

This New Musical About Drag Queens Has Lots Of Sequins And Sass. It Might Make You Cry, Too.

Victoria's Secret Makes Trans History During Return Of Runway Show

This Tender Gay Drama Has Its Roots In A Real-Life Love Story

WNBA Star And Wife Receive Homophobic Threats During Finals

Cooper Koch Shares Whether He Wore A Prosthetic Penis In That 'Monsters' Nude Scene

Some Of The Best LGBTQ+ Films Are Playing In NYC Right Now. Heres What To Add To Your Watch List.

Jonathan Groff Takes New Role As A Music Legend With Some Racy Secrets

This Netflix Show Is A Lesson For Other Book-To-TV Adaptations

After Ellen DeGeneres' Final Comedy Special, The Team Behind Her 'Coming Out' Episode Has Reunited

Texas Officials Want To Revoke Gender Marker Changes On Trans Peoples IDs

In 'Brilliant Minds,' A Real-Life Queer Hero And Medical Pioneer Gets A Modern Makeover

Colton Underwood Welcomes A Son, Bishop, With Husband Jordan C. Brown

I Felt Like I Was Failing At 'The Talk' And Then Chappell Roan Fixed Everything

Gavin Creel, Star Of Broadway's 'Hello, Dolly!' And 'Book Of Mormon,' Dead At 48

Harry Potter Star Maggie Smith Dead At 89

I Have A Trans 9-Year-Old. I Thought I Knew What It'd Be Like To Parent Him But I Was Wrong.

I Thought Id Addressed My Past Trauma. And Then I Attended A Gay Wedding.

Republicans Are Making It Harder For Trans People To Vote In The Election

As Cole Escolas Oh, Mary! Sidekick, Bianca Leigh Is Smashing Barriers And Getting Her Due

Kentucky Governor Bans Use Of Conversion Therapy On Minors

Ellen DeGeneres Says She's Been 'Kicked Out Of Show Business' In Trailer For Netflix Special

'Heartstopper' Season 3 Trailer Teases A Very Special Guest Star

Steve-O Reveals Why He Decided Not To Get A Boob Job The Day Of His Surgery

Republicans Are Launching Last-Minute Attempts To Keep Abortion Off The Ballot

Fashion Week Got Political And In The Best Way

'She Introduced Millennials To Typing. Then She Was Never Seen Again.'

Paralympian Comes Out As Gay After Competing In Paris: 'Another Fight Awaits Me'

I Lived With A Secret For Years. Then I Heard Chappell Roan's Music And My Life Changed.

Moms For Liberty Goes All In On Transphobia

Country Singer Billy Gilman Marries Anthony Carbone After 2 Years Together

These Queer Street Dancers Are Leading With Authenticity

Florida's Official Tourism Website Quietly Scrubs 'LGBTQ Travel' Page

Very Demure TikToker Jools Lebron Shares Life-Changing News After Going Viral

2 Flamingo Dads Successfully Hatch Adopted Chick Together

Why I Struggled To Say Goodbye To Gay Bars

The Trans People Who Are Being Left Behind As Others Flee Right-Wing States

Ilana Glazer Explains How Pregnancy Helped Them Identify As Nonbinary

Luke Evans On Why It Matters He's Reportedly Been Considered To Play James Bond

George Santos Defends JD Vance Against Drag Photo Controversy

Im A Transgender Parent. Heres How Our Family Makes It Through The School Year

How Tim Walz Turned Minnesota Into A 'Trans Refuge'

Here's The Thing They Won't Tell You About Giving Your Trans Kid Hormone Shots

Holland Taylor Shares Why She And Sarah Paulson Aren't Interested In Getting Married

Tim Walz Has Spent Decades Championing LGBTQ+ Rights

Who Is Tim Walz? 6 Things To Know About Kamala Harris Running Mate

Hundreds Of Health Care Providers Send Stark Message On Abortion To Biden

A Gay Writer's Quest For Fame Leads Him To Sex Work In This Steamy New Drama

A Bunch Of Anti-LGBTQ+ Candidates Are Running In This State. And They Have Trumps Support.

Punkie Johnson Announces Departure From 'Saturday Night Live' After 4 Seasons

Elon Musk's Trans Daughter Brutally Hits Back After He Said She Was 'Dead'

Kamala Harris Makes Special Appearance On RuPauls Drag Race All Stars

I Never Gave Homophobes A Second Thought. Then My Husband And I Became Dads To Twin Girls.

How Shannen Doherty's Character On 'Charmed' Created A Safe Space For Gay Men

I Didn't Know If I Was Ready For Kids. Then I Became A Single Foster Dad At 27.

Dr. Ruth Westheimer, Radio And TV Sex Therapist, Dies

Julia Fox Seems To Come Out As A Lesbian: So Sorry, Boys

My College Roommate Became A Close Friend. Then I Started To Develop Feelings And Didn't Know How To Tell Her.

Jason Mraz Once Feared He'd Become A 'Punch Line' If He Revealed His Sexuality

'SNL' Alum Talks Complicated Legacy Of Playing Androgynous Icon Pat

I Prayed For Years That No One Would Discover The Issue With My Private Parts. Now I'm Done Hiding.

I Spend Pride Month Engaging With Evangelicals Online. My Friends Don't See The Point Here's Why I Persist.

'Bridgerton' Author Defends Show's Upcoming Queer Romance After Fan Backlash

New York County Bans Sports Teams With Trans Women And Girls From Athletic Facilities

A New Documentary Examines Queer Comedians' Painful Rise And Lasting Legacy

I Was A Pastor At A Megachurch. Then Someone Asked Me A Question That Turned My Life Upside Down.

Does 'Summer Penis' Exist? The Truth About Men Looking Bigger In The Heat

I Moved In With The Man Of My Dreams After Our Second Date. Then He Made A Request That Had Me Packing My Bags.