January 20, 2023
Get to Know Byron Perkins, the Out College Football Player Making Waves
Shawn Laib READ TIME: 4 MIN.
If you're a queer sports fan, you've probably heard about Byron Perkins by now. Perkins is a recently out football player for the Hampton University team, a college that is considered a historically Black college or university (HBCU). Perkins' milestone coming out announcement is a massive win for the LGBTQ+ and Black communities in the world of sports. No other player has ever come out while playing for an HBCU. The reasons for this may vary, but we do know that Perkins deserves much more notoriety around the country than he's already gotten.
Being gay in the world of high-level male sports is still something considered taboo in most parts of the world. Combine this with the hyper-masculine stereotypes heaped upon young Black men in America and it's not hard to see why queer, Black male athletes choose to keep their sexualities to themselves. We thought it was vital to give some more backstory on Perkins, and the reactions from the world since he came out in October 2022. From talk show appearances to steamy IG posts, it's time to get to know Byron Perkins' journey.
"Tamron Hall Show" Appearance
Byron Perkins didn't come out on the "Tamron Hall Show," but his appearance on the daytime program is the only time he's been interviewed on a major public platform since his coming out. This is a landmark moment for young, Black athletes who are struggling with their sexualities to see the thought process that Perkins went through to feel comfortable with himself.
The interview has a lot of incredible moments that will make LGBTQ+ viewers feel inspired to be themselves. Perkins is shown a video of support by Hall in which his mother appears and reassures him of her love. Perkins' mother then sits down on the couch with her son, a powerful moment that surprises Perkins and lets other parents of queer youth know that they should be supportive in the same manner.
Unfortunately, some viewers still didn't understand the significance of this moment. Homophobic comments on the YouTube clip include people claiming that Perkins came out because he lost touch with God. The use of religion from certain sectors of society is used as a tool of discrimination, and it's very unfortunate that it's still a thing in 2023.
Perkins has been shown to incorporate religious texts and other references to his beliefs on his Instagram. Having a religious athlete come out and still be faithful to his religion should help others living in fear of discrimination to seek comfort in what they believe in, even if others will use this belief system to hate others.
Perkins' Impact on Others
@andscape Byron Perkins, a DB at @Hampton university made history as the first openly #gay 🏈 player at an #hbcu. (🎥 @jade) #hampton #hamptonuniversity #comingout ♬ original sound - Andscape
With a little bit of time to soak in the reactions from friends, family, and other members of the queer community, Byron Perkins shared some more of his thoughts with the Andscape TikTok account in December 2022. He eloquently spoke about how part of the reason homophobia runs rampant in male sports is because athletes and their mental health is often ignored.
Fans and others watching at home don't realize all of the different aspects of an athlete's life. Perkins encouraged colleges to provide more mental health resources for student athletes so these young people can grow, mature, and feel comfortable in their own skin, whether an athlete feels different from others or not.
A Peak at Perkins' Instagram
Car selfies are always a great time to show off your good looks. Byron Perkins has a certain glow to him here that is reflected in the sunlight of the crisp November air, but knowing such a huge secret has just recently been lifted from him here adds context to the sexy photo. Nothing's more attractive than a person who is determined to live their truth no matter what the world thinks about you.
Athletes are often defined by the success they contribute to their teams while on the field, but the hard work and determination that goes into improving isn't always documented for the world to see. Instagram and other social media have allowed people like Byron Perkins to show off what they do behind the scenes, and we certainly aren't going to complain about seeing his shirtless workout routines. Make sure you scroll through all of the photos on this post, as there's more than just a couple.
This is another similar set of photos of Byron Perkins taken during a workout. These are more of a full-body thirst trap, alongside a caption talking about how Perkins will never forget things in life. This could be perhaps referring to the haters or the bigots off the football field, or the critics of his game on the field.
These photos are a great set of Perkins in his football uniform for Hampton University. It's a great way for people to remember that Perkins is dedicated to the game and ready to get back out on the field just like before he came out. The more detractors can see that things like sexual orientation have nothing to do with your skills, the better and more accepting society should become.
