In the late 80s, I was at an
AIDS information meeting, trying to learn as much as
possible about the virus inside my body, when a speaker said
something mostly unheard of in those days:
“You’re not guaranteed to die of
AIDS.”
The room lifted and
lightened, as if a new dream had been born, as if, for the
first time, we were given an alternative to dwelling on our
worst nightmares, an alternate reality on which to focus,
strive for, dream of coming true.
Some in that room that day,
including myself, continue to live the dream of not dying of
AIDS ... so far. And we have lived to see all kinds of
dreams come true, including a major professional athlete
surviving and thriving with HIV/AIDS (thank you, Magic), and
now, a major professional athlete proclaiming her dream to
survive and thrive with her love in full bloom.
Thank you, Sheryl Swoopes,
for daring to give us an alternate reality to the “out pro
athlete” nightmare. Thank you for dreaming a better dream.
That’s what the Comet from
Houston did. She dreamed of a better life and decided to go
for it. She dreamed of better consequences for her honesty
and integrity, consequences that served her soul and all
those around her. She created an alternate reality for other
major league athletes, male and female, by saying:
“You’re not guaranteed to die
of hate.”
The world lifted and
lightened, as if a new dream had been born, as if, we were
given an alternative to dwelling on our worst nightmares,
not by the pundits on any side of any debate, but by a
warrior/athlete herself.
Thank you, Sheryl Swoopes,
for providing us with this reality shift.
Thank you for dreaming the
better dream.
Keep dreaming.
Randy Boyd is an author
and Outsports columnist. His new novel is
Walt Loves the Bearcat, a story of love,
football and dreaming better dreams, especially when it
comes to gays in sports.
Oct. 30,
2005
List of Out Athletes
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