Ex-Gopher Zach Puchtel’s ‘Coming Out’ as Bisexual a Show-Stopper — and Rare among Athletes

Former Golden Gopher star Zach Puchtel came out as bisexual six months ago during a Harvard fashion show. He walked to the front of the show and announced his sexual orientation to 3,000 audience members. That event garnered little attention in the media, but an interview in the Gopher Hole, a repository for all things Gopher athletics, has shone more light on Puchtel’s sexuality and garnered more attention than his fashion show stunt this past spring.

According to OutSports.com, a publication that focuses on LGBT people in athletics, Puchtel is one of only two NCAA Division 1 basketball players to come out. Ever.

The Minneapolis native and Harvard student’s blog relates his experience of coming out in front of a large crowd. “As most of my good friends know, I came out of the closet nearly 6 months ago. Not only did I come out, but I made a public spectacle by doing it in the middle of a fashion show that I was involved in,” he wrote. “Now, needless to say, it has been an eye-opening experience for me. More than anything, it’s made me come to realize the consequences of my actions. I hurt a number of people by doing what I did, but more importantly, I freed myself.”

And he is concerned that his sexuality could have an impact on his future hopes to play in the NFL. “I want to play football in the NFL. I believe that I was put on this earth to play football. This is my next goal, and I don’t see anything that can stop me. Narcissism and ego aside, the one problem that may arise is the issue of being gay. I am not gay. I am not straight. I am who I am. I am sexually attracted to men and women, and I enjoy being with women in intimate relationships.”

He continues, “As far as I know, there has never been an openly gay (or recently announced gay) athlete in a major sport. It is important because I know who I am, and I want others to be able to feel comfortable in their own skin as well. I know what it feels like to be ostracized due to sexual preference, and I firmly believe that this is something that needs to be changed in order to help all people be treated equally,” he wrote. “It is no different than the civil or women’s rights movements. In fact, it may be more important today due to the fact that gays are constantly being ridiculed and mistreated, whereas women and African-Americans have made huge strides since their major movements.”

His coming out as bisexual is rare. Most high profile coming out stories involve gays and lesbians. Bisexuals are attracted physically and romantically to both men and women, but almost never equally attracted to both.  Puchtel is sexually attracted to both men and women, although he says his romantic attachment is mainly to women.

Cyd Zeigler Jr., of OutSports.com analyzed the announcement of Puchtel’s bisexuality in a society where gay and straight are often offered as the only two options. “It is an interesting revelation, and indicative of where sexuality is headed in our culture. While many people don’t want to believe that bisexuality is real, forcing people to “choose” between homo- and heterosexuality, more and more young people are finding themselves attracted to both sexes and allowing themselves to pursue those attractions.”

Puchtel gave a brief interview about his coming out to the Gopher Hole.

GH: In your blog ( http://puchtel.blogs…) you said that you made a public spectacle out of yourself when you came out. What happened?

ZP: It was a spectacle because it was on stage, in front of about 3000 people. I stopped the show, walked to the front of the stage, and made my announcement that I was gay.

GH: Wow. Talk about coming out with a bang!
ZP: Go big or go home.

GH: Can explain the timing of your coming out?
ZP: It just felt right.

GH: When did you first realize you might be gay?
ZP: I think most people question their sexuality growing up, but for me it had been lingering. It had been a question in my mind for quite a while.

GH: Did you try to suppress those feelings? Or questions?
ZP: Sure. Being an athlete it was unheard of to have any feelings like that, so it was kind of my little secret. I did share it with Spencer, as he was probably my best friend when I was at Minnesota.

The full interview includes his teammates’ reactions, the differences in having a gay versus a bisexual identity, and the experience of homophobia in professional sports.

Puchtel’s coming out follows that of former NFL Vikings player Esera Tuaolo and former NBA player John Amaechi.

Image via gopherhole