Tag: Wellness

@Outsports – This gay man from NASCAR explains why coming out is paramount to obtaining equality by @KevinRamsell & @Gay50Blog Commentary

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Kevin Ramsell (left) with “The King” Richard Petty.

On a recent episode of HBO’s Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel, they filed a story on Golden State Warriors President Rick Welts. This was followed up by Coach Steve Kerr’s comment that more gay athletes need to come out to see a change.

Hearing Mr. Welts story hit me close to home.

 I grew up going to a Lutheran grade school and high school, where I was surrounded by a stigma that gay people are to be shamed rather than applauded. The thought of being gay never crossed my mind. In my 20s, I got involved in auto racing from working with a race team all the way up to working for a sanctioning body, then for a news/public relations Web site.

Throughout that process I realized that I wasn’t like the other guys.  I couldn’t get involved in conversations about women because I honestly had no interest.  It was then I started my journey to coming out. At the time I assumed being gay in the auto racing world would have more of a negative impact on my life.  So I kept it quiet, just like Rick Welts did with much of his career in the NBA.

Read the full story here.

COMMENTARY – Welcome to your true self Kevin.  As long as there are people like you who are willing to stand in your truth, the world will be a better place.

It doesn’t take magazine covers or public declarations, it just takes each of us living our lives to our best potential.  You serve as an example!  Thank you!

Demi Lovato to Receive Vanguard Award @ 27th GLAAD Media Awards @ddlovato @GLAAD

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demi-lovato

GLAAD has announced that Demi Lovato will be honored with the Vanguard Award for her efforts to promote acceptance and equality.

In announcing Lovato, GLAAD President and CEO Sarah Kate Ellis stated:

“Demi Lovato has consistently used her platform as a successful artist to send messages of acceptance and support to LGBT people everywhere,”

A vocal LGBT advocate, Lovato credited her late, gay grandfather for inspiring her to “speak out and stand up for what I believe in.” The  2013 music video for the singer’s hit single “Really Don’t Care” was filmed at a Los Angeles LGBT pride event.  She was featured in the fifth season of Fox’s “Glee” as the love interest of Naya Rivera’s character –a role that she hoped would “inspire people with my character to love who they are and accept who they are.”

The GLAAD Media Awards will be presented on April 2nd at the Beverly Hilton in Los Angeles and telecast on LOGO,  April 4th.