Minnesota United FC midfielder Collin Martin publicly came out as gay, hours before his team celebrated Pride Night.
Collin Martin on Twitter
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
The 23-year-old announced via Twitter with a letter attached saying:
I have been out as a gay man for many years to my family and friends, and this includes my teammates. 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.
Martin becomes the only active male professional athlete in all major professional sports leagues to come out and the second openly gay MLS player, following retired LA Galaxys Robbie Rogers, congratulated Martin on Twitter.
Robbie Rogers on Twitter
Love this! So so inspiring thank you Colin! Good luck this season, except against the @LAGalaxy https://t.co/trkAO9YI2i
On the pitch, hes in his sixth MLS season. Martin was traded to Minnesota in 2927 after previously signing with DC United back in 2013.
