Jan-Michael Gambill (tennis player)
- Thread starter Matt Cohen
- Start date
There is a clip on tennis.com of him helping preview Indian Wells for the Tennis Channel, and it really frustrates me that he hasn't come out. There have been no prominent openly gay ATP players, not even retired ones, so for him to come out publicly would be such a huge step forward in terms of gay visibility and acceptance in tennis. I wonder what the hold up is? I doubt there would be a negative reaction. I don't think tennis is that homophobic a sport. He could be such a great role model for young gay tennis players. Him publicly coming out would show them that they don't need to hide their sexuality, that it's not something to be ashamed of.
I worked in pro tennis for awhile, and on tour it was pretty well known he was gay- always had a boyfriend around. Kind of a weird guy...not super nice but not a dick
I disagree and think that's why we haven't seen any male player, current or former, come out.
Compared to sports like American football, rugby, wrestling, boxing, hockey, basketball and baseball, I doubt it’s that homophobic. Those all have a reputation for being much more “macho” sports. Plus, it’s probably much harder to come out when you’re on a team and have to cooperate and get along with other team members. Tennis has the benefit of being an individual sport where you can pretty much mind your own business. I’m sure Serena and Maria see each other in the locker room, but they don’t have to interact with each other, and I’m sure they don’t. That ability to keep to yourself should make coming out easier.
And yet after everything you've said, no guy has ever come out. The tour is full of machissimo South American players and those from Eastern European and former Soviet block and from my experience those regions are not the most welcoming to gays.
No former prominent male players have come out, though. Only like one minor, low-ranked pro player and a couple of college players. There have been quite a few pro female players who have come out, though, even while still active. And they’ve been fine.
That's because homosexuality has always been more accepted in female sport leagues than male ones.
If you follow his instagram I'd say you could argue he is 'out'. I want to live in s world where it's not a big announcement to be gay and personally would prefer if if more couples behaved like JMG and his partner, that's how it will become a norm.
yeah one of the most "well liked" players on tour was Marat Safin who is now a politician for Putin's party - a lot of tennis players put up a lot of homophobic stuff on their instagram pages etc... not to mention having to play in places like Russia, Eastern Europe, Dubai etc etc... its really not a welcoming environment and the higher ups seem to do nothing beyond maybe Murray and Federer saying a few nice words now and then
He’s shy and doesn’t like being the center of attention like he used to be when he was in his 20’s. He also probably ashamed of it and doesn’t want the general public to know.
He appears on his bf’s Instagram, so he can’t be too ashamed of it. He doesn’t hide his sexuality very well if he is trying to hide it.
This is kind of a naive or ignorant view. With a lack of visibility, it will not become the norm. Also, he should think of all of the young male tennis players who are gay or bi that he could help by coming out. He shouldn’t just think of himself and his own privacy. That’s selfish. Anderson Cooper said the reason he finally came out several years ago was because he didn’t want young people to think that he was hiding it because it’s something to be ashamed of. And he’s a journalist who has to go to countries that aren’t gay friendly all the time.
Marat Safin hasn’t been on the tour in years. Kevin Anderson just showed up at an LGBTQ tennis event right before this year’s Australian Open began. Even if some players are against being gay, I doubt many of them care enough to speak out against it. Most players are probably too focused on themselves and their own careers to really care or make an issue of it.
Neither has Jan Michael Gambill... its wonderful Kevin did that - im sure hes a nice guy but all i’ll say is its certainly not an issue for wawrinka, pouille, kachanov, zverev, goffin etc etc etc to talk about their gfs/wives and have them all over instagram in the stands, and they are equally focused on their own lives - theres a reason an lgbt player that realistically exists is not doing the same and its not because theyre too busy
If guys can come out in other sports, then they can certainly come out in tennis. This isn’t rugby here.
