Snowboarder Belle Brockhoff, an Olympic hopeful, comes out gay
Mon. August 26, 2013 8:20 AM by OnTopMag.com
Australian snowboarder Belle Brockhoff has come out gay.
The 20-year-old Winter Olympics hopeful told Australia's ABC TV that she was coming out to take a stand for gay and lesbian athletes competing next year in Sochi, Russia, where a recently approved "gay propaganda" law prohibits the positive portrayal of gays in a venue where minors might be present.
"I want to be proud of who I am and be proud of all the work I've done to get into the Olympics," Brockhoff said.
She said that the law scared her.
"I have a feeling that I would have to kinda go back into the closet a little bit because I don't want to risk my, like, you know, safety, being arrested or deported. I want to be able to compete and live my dream and become an Olympian. That's always what I've wanted to do," Brockhoff said
The 20-year-old Winter Olympics hopeful told Australia's ABC TV that she was coming out to take a stand for gay and lesbian athletes competing next year in Sochi, Russia, where a recently approved "gay propaganda" law prohibits the positive portrayal of gays in a venue where minors might be present.
"I want to be proud of who I am and be proud of all the work I've done to get into the Olympics," Brockhoff said.
She said that the law scared her.
"I have a feeling that I would have to kinda go back into the closet a little bit because I don't want to risk my, like, you know, safety, being arrested or deported. I want to be able to compete and live my dream and become an Olympian. That's always what I've wanted to do," Brockhoff said
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