{"id":254353,"date":"2025-08-21T08:04:54","date_gmt":"2025-08-21T11:04:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gay.blog.br\/?p=254353"},"modified":"2025-09-01T19:00:24","modified_gmt":"2025-09-01T22:00:24","slug":"president-of-the-u-s-tennis-federation-brian-vahaly-seeks-greater-inclusion-for-lgbtq-athletes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gay.blog.br\/en\/sports\/president-of-the-u-s-tennis-federation-brian-vahaly-seeks-greater-inclusion-for-lgbtq-athletes\/","title":{"rendered":"President of the U.S. Tennis Federation, Brian Vahaly, seeks greater inclusion for LGBTQ+ athletes"},"content":{"rendered":"

On the eve of the US Open<\/strong>, Brian Vahaly<\/strong>, former professional tennis player and current president of the United States Tennis Association (USTA)<\/strong>, once again highlighted the importance of LGBTQIA+ visibility in sports. At 46, Brian was the first player in ATP history, even after retirement, to publicly come out as gay \u2014 a step he took in 2017, ten years after leaving the professional circuit. Until then, no male top-level tennis player had openly discussed their sexual orientation. This exclusivity lasted until December 2024, when Brazilian Jo\u00e3o Lucas Reis da Silva<\/a> became the first active ATP player to publicly come out as gay.<\/p>\n

\"Brian<\/a>
Brian Vahaly (Photo: ATP\/Disclosure)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Vahaly, who reached a career-high ATP ranking of No. 64 and defeated players like Michael Chang and Juan Carlos Ferrero, says his decision to come out publicly was motivated by parenthood. He and his husband, Bill Jones<\/strong>, are parents of twins conceived via surrogate. \u201cYou look at them and think about the life you want to build. Your priorities change. It\u2019s no longer about you\u201d<\/em>, he said in an interview with NBC News<\/em><\/a>, published on August 19.<\/p>\n

Raised in a conservative and religious home in Atlanta<\/a>, Vahaly said it took him years to accept himself and revealed that he underwent a form of \u201cconversion therapy\u201d at a church. \u201cI was repeatedly told that my attraction to men was a kind of \u2018horrible defect\u2019 that could be cured by God\u201d<\/em>, he said. He also highlighted the role of his sports psychologist in this journey of self-discovery.<\/p>\n

Upon becoming USTA<\/strong><\/a> president last November, Vahaly joined figures like Billie Jean King <\/a>and Martina Navratilova<\/a> in LGBTQ+ leadership in sports. Despite this, he says he still faces resistance in some environments: \u201cThere are rooms where they share my profile but omit that I\u2019m gay or that I\u2019m a parent\u201d<\/em>.<\/p>\n

\"USTA<\/a>
USTA first vice president and former ATP player Brian Vahaly was accompanied by his husband Bill and their twins, Parker and Bennett \u2013 Reproduction<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Regarding the impact of homophobia behind the scenes in men\u2019s tennis, the former athlete acknowledges that the environment can still be hostile, discouraging other players from revealing their sexual orientation. \u201cThere are factors like loss of sponsorship and traveling to countries where being gay is not legal or accepted\u201d<\/em>, he said. Still, he believes the new generation has a more open attitude: \u201cThe new generation thinks about inclusion very differently from my generation. That gives me hope\u201d<\/em>.<\/p>\n

Since stepping away from the courts, Vahaly<\/a> also worked in the financial sector until he was invited to join the USTA board. Initially hesitant, he accepted after being persuaded by a former colleague: \u201cWhen you don\u2019t see people like you in leadership positions, it\u2019s hard to believe that space is safe\u201d<\/em>, he recalled.<\/p>\n

Brian Vahaly, on the left, with his husband and their two children: Photo: Ellwood \/ USTA via AP<\/p>\n

In addition to his leadership role, Brian<\/a> aims to use the US Open<\/strong> to raise visibility for organizations supporting the LGBTQIA+ cause, such as The Trevor Project, Athlete Ally, You Can Play, and the Gay and Lesbian Tennis Alliance. On August 28, the tournament will host the fifth edition of \u201cOpen Pride Day\u201d<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t want to force anything down anyone\u2019s throat. I just want to show that we\u2019re not that different. Humanizing our community is what helps us move forward\u201d,<\/em> he concluded.<\/p>\n

Jo\u00e3o Lucas Reis se torna 1\u00ba tenista da ATP em atividade a se declarar gay<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n