‘Survivor’ runner-up Deshawn Radden comes out, says he’s ready to go back to the island as his authentic self
Survivor—the post-pandemic seasons of the long-running CBS reality competition series—have been marked by a noticeable uptick in LGBTQ+ contestants, and the show’s been all the more exciting because of it.The winner’s circle alone is full of gays, from Season 44’s Yam Yam Arocho, Survivor‘s first out QPOC winner, to most recently Kenzie Petty, the first female winner to openly identify as LGBTQ+ while on the show.Even 41’s victor, Erika Casupanan, came out as a lesbian in an Instagram video at the end of last year—the gays stay winning!Subscribe to our newsletter for your front-row seat to all things entertainment with a sprinkle of everything else queer.Now, the latest former castaway to come out as queer is Casupanan’s runner-up, Deshawn Radden.
Welcome to the family, Deshawn!A post shared by Dr. Deshawn Radden (@deshawnradden)“I came out to my family and a few close friends a few years ago,” Radden writes in a recent Instagram post. “The journey only began at that point, and it’s taken much growing, learning & unlearning and developing self love to get here, especially as this part of my identity intersects with my faith.”The Miami-based Radden came into his 2021 season of Survivor as a (mostly) closeted medical student, but stands proud today as an out graduate of Barry University’s School of Podiatric Medicine—that’s Doctor Deshawn Radden to you!Spoilers ahead for the latest turn of events on ‘Survivor’ season 46.He elaborated further on his coming out experience in the latest edition of The Pride Has Spoken, the special Pride Month series from former Survivor contestant Rob Cesternino’s Rob Has A Podcast podcast network.
Speaking with fellow castaway Evvie Jagoda—the show’s first nonbinary player—Radden details his journey:“I came out back in 2021.