So many people got to see stories on screen, from a cheesy teen comedy, to a dramatic tale told across three separate ages in a man’s life, to a historical drama where LGBTQ+ British citizens found unlikely allies. The 2010s brought us some amazing progressive content, and some huge jumps in terms of LGBTQ+ representation in front and behind the camera in Hollywood.īut the growth of LGBTQ+ stories on screen was the biggest achievement in the 2010s. But even if the best decade is over, the effect of LGBTQ+ media stays forever. Well, it was until December 31st last year. You can also subscribe to the show on Apple’s Podcast page as well as on Google Podcasts, and wherever you’ll find Outsports podcasts.By: Bethany Wade The best gay movies of the past decade you need to watch now “Here’s why that language matters here’s how you can change your policies.’ Giving them real accessible and tangible ways to make things better.”Ĭlick here to check out this episode of our Outsports podcast, The Sports Kiki. “I’m there to be a resource: talk to the kids, talk to the AD, talk to the coach,” he said. He’s working so other athletes don’t feel the need to hide their true selves. Today, Porter is an assistant principal at a public high school in Colorado, and also an LGBTQ sports inclusion advocate. As LGBTQ people, we can be from different decades and even generations. Porter’s obvious love for his partner, and vice versa, show the power of shared experiences. It gave me just a level of confidence and self-love that I never experienced before.” “Even though he’s significantly younger than me, he’s got a wisdom and perspective on self and authenticity that really, really helped me. “My partner, Brandan, has been by my side through it all,” Porter said. He just turned 48, and for the first time, cares about making himself feel good. My body, I could tell, was dying.”īut now, Porter feels reborn, both physically and spiritually. We know when we should push ourselves and when we should rest. Athletes are very in tune with their bodies. He credits his partner of nearly 10 years, Brandan, with giving him the strength to push forward and seek help. Porter did eventually shake his drinking. He says it’s one of his greatest joys in life. But that was just something I could not shake.” Porter is an LGBTQ sports advocate. “There were so many things in my life that were improving and positive. It’s not just something that goes away overnight,” he said. (Porter recently wrote about his struggles with alcoholism on his personal website, writing a letter to his 17-year-old self.) Coming out wasn’t a panacea for all of the ills in his life. They didn’t want a lawsuit, they said.Īs a result, Porter was forced to change in the bathroom. While Porter remained at his high school - where he led the track and field team to four state championships over 16 years - the conservative administration told him to stop entering his team’s locker room. But at the time, it certainly seemed like a very selfish decision.” “I knew that was a reality, and it came to fruition in that regard. “That was driven by being a dad, and the pain and the hurt I knew it would cause my family,” he said. He made a commitment to his wife and children. At the time, Porter says he felt selfish. Understandably, there was a lot of anger, and feelings of betrayal. Over the coming months, they would tell their children, separate and divorce. When the words came out of his mouth - “I’m gay” - she was silent. The first time Porter told his ex-wife he was gay, they were sitting poolside, watching their son swim laps. One was to just continue with this charade, and the other was to try and tackle this head on and try to live a life of authenticity and happiness. “There were some pretty dark times where I just wanted it to all go away,” Porter said. He just celebrated his fourth year of sobriety, or as he puts it: his freedom from alcohol. For the first time, he also spoke publicly about his long-standing battle with alcoholism. On a recent edition of “The Sports Kiki,” I spoke with Porter about his powerful journey as an openly gay man who came out later in life - after marrying a woman and fathering two kids. It is a story of evolution and discovery.
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Today, Porter is free from alcohol and personal baggage. It took years of introspection, and a loving partner, to help him get through. But the self-guilt remained, and so did the alcoholism. Sure, the state-champion Colorado track and field and cross-country coach was finally confident enough to tell his story. Micah Porter was still battling demons when he publicly came out in 2013.
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Outsports has a new feature, Out in the World : diving into our deep archive of Coming Out stories and updating the stories of out athletes, coaches and other sports personnel who continue to prove, everyday, that Courage Is Contagious.