A post shared by Collin Martin (@cm7md)Collin Martin never considered himself an activist. Then he publicly came out as gay. The pro soccer player established his place in sports history seven years ago, when he became one of the first players in the five male pro leagues to come out.
At the time, he was the only active gay player in the five leagues–NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL and MLS–and remains a unicorn today. Subscribe to our newsletter for a refreshing cocktail (or mocktail) of LGBTQ+ entertainment and pop culture, served up with a side of eye-candy.He’s played the last five years in the USL Championship, most recently for North Carolina FC. As the 2025 season approaches, the Maryland native is still waiting for company.
“I would love to see a major athlete come out. I’ve been told that there are some major, major athletes out there that have a story to tell,” he told the Baltimore Sun in a recent interview. A post shared by Collin Martin (@cm7md)A post shared by Collin Martin (@cm7md)Robbie Rogers broke the ultimate barrier in 2013, when the soccer star became the first out active player in the five major leagues.
A smattering have followed, namely Jason Collins in the NBA and Carl Nassib in the NFL. While the women’s pro sports leagues are filled with out stars, the men’s leagues remain barren. Martin says there are still structural forces that keep athletes in the closet.“If one of those areas is still troubling or hard, why would you take the biggest leap to come out publicly?” he said.
“I think about agents and people that want to protect someone’s image.”Pride Month is important for LGBTQ+ people everywhere. But for pro soccer player Collin Martin, this time of year is especially significant. Despite the existing barriers, Martin has enjoyed the full support of his teammates and coaches, just like Rogers, Collins and Nassib.
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