Hockey player Luke Prokop came out as gay on Monday, adding his name to a short list of current or prospective professional male athletes who have made such announcements publicly.
Prokop, who signed an entry-level contract with the NHL’s Nashville Predators last year and played last season with junior league team the Calgary Hitmen, made the announcement on his Instagram account to become the first active player under an NHL contract to do so, according to ESPN.
“Today I am proud to publicly tell everyone that I am gay,” Prokop wrote.
“It has been quite the journey to get to this point in my life, but I could not be happier with my decision to come out,” he continued. “From a young age I have dreamed of being an NHL player, and I believe that living my authentic life will allow me to bring my whole self to the rink and improve my chances of fulfilling my dreams.”
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Prokop, 19, said keeping his sexuality quiet made life especially difficult last season.
“I was lying in bed one night, had just deleted a dating app for the fourth or fifth time, and I was extremely frustrated because I couldn’t be my true authentic self,” he told ESPN. “In that moment, I said, ‘Enough is enough. I’m accepting who I am. I want to live the way I want to, and I want to accept myself as a gay man.'”
The Predators will support Prokop “unequivocally” as he continues to develop as a prospect, the organization said in a statement.
“A long-stated goal in our organization is equality for all, including the LGBTQ community, and it is important that Luke feels comfortable and part of an inclusive environment as he moves forward in his career,” said Predators President and CEO Sean Henry.
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Prokop’s announcement follows Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Carl Nassib’s revelation that he is gay, which made the 28-year-old the first active NFL player to make such an announcement.
