Wrestler Mike Parrow came out in 2017 but he hasn’t stopped being out, not one bit. He’s worn a pride flag in the ring for a championship match, and adorned his wrestling gear with the number 49 to honor those murdered at Pulse nightclub in Orlando, Fla.

On Friday, we noticed that Parrow tweeted a response to some recent homophobic social media posts like the ones we’ve all seen from around the world.

“I’m #proud to be a openly #Gay athlete I’m posting this because of all the homophobic tweets I’ve seen the past couple days in sports. I did not choose to be #Gay however I did choose to live my life proud of who I am. As wrestlers we all fight for something I fight for #equality”

We at Outsports see this as an opportunity for every out athlete and fan to share their story of acceptance. The fear of rejection often steals the spotlight in the mass media, but the reality is that an overwhelming number of out athletes receive an outpouring of support.

We want to hear your story, too. Tweet yours and tag @Outsports and use the hashtag #AcceptanceStories so we can share them far and wide with everyone. You can also post them to Facebook or Instagram.

We also welcome your email! You’ll find the link to our email addresses at the “Contact Us” link on our homepage. Or just simply send your message to [email protected]

You don’t have to be a superstar, or even a professional athlete. To us, everyone who comes out and lives their truth is a hero, an inspiration, a role model and someone we want to salute.

Because Courage Is Contagious.

Don't forget to share: