Byron Perkins Makes History As First Out Football Player at HBCU
Byron Perkins, a defensive back who plays Division I football at Hampton University in Virginia, came out as gay in an Instagram story this week.
With his announcement, he is the first out gay football player at a Historically Black College or University.“I have come to understand that life is precious and I could be gone at any moment, therefore, I will no longer be living a lie,” Perkins posted to Instagram. “No one should have to live a life crippled by what society thinks.”Perkins, a 6’3” redshirt junior from De La Salle High School in Chicago, Ill., has 16 tackles and two deflected passes through six games this season.
He transferred from Purdue University and has appeared in a total of 11 games over two seasons at Hampton. The Hampton Pirates have a record of 4-2 this season in the Colonial Athletic Association.
In an exclusive interview with Cyd Ziegler of OutSports, Perkins said he came out in part to set an example for other Black gay male athletes who are suffering in the closet.“Especially at an HBCU, young Black gay men need an outlet,” Perkins told Ziegler of OutSports. “They need a support system.
