Out100: Derrick Gordon

Photography by JUCO | Retouching by Anna Glen at Wet Noodle

The Moment: March 1957:
Here's Little Richard, Little Richard's first album, is released.

"When Michael Sam and Jason Collins came out, it had a huge effect on me," says University of Massachusetts student and basketball player Derrick Gordon, "especially Collins, since he plays basketball as well. Both of them are like my big brothers. I wanted to come out the next day." In April, Gordon secured his own place in sports history as the first active Division I men's basketball player in the National Collegiate Athletic Association to come out. He told his story to ESPN and Outsports, and says he immediately felt relieved. A few weeks later, he was on the red carpet at the GLAAD Media Awards.
How quickly things can change.

Photographed at The Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel on August 22, 2014

Styling by Kyle Blackmon. Groomer: Leah Rial/Exclusive Artists

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