Welcome, Orlando!

Not only is it currently GLBT History Month, but today boxer Orlando Cruz came out. This marks the very first time ever that an active, professional boxer has come out. I do not follow boxing at all (it puzzles me), but I am happy to see anyone come out with confidence, pride, and determination. He is quite brave to have come out in such a traditionally masculine sport, and in a country that is suffering such a sick backlash against gay men and women.

Continued success to you, hero.

"I've been fighting for more than 24 years and as I continue my ascendant career, I want to be true to myself...I want to try to be the best role model I can be for kids who might look into boxing as a sport and a professional career. I have and will always be a proud Puerto Rican. I have always been and always will be a proud gay man.

I don't want to hide any of my identities...I want people to look at me for the human being that I am. I am a professional sportsman that always brings his best to the ring. I want for people to continue to see me for my boxing skills, my character, my sportsmanship. But I also want kids who suffer from bullying to know that you can be whoever you want to be in life, including a professional boxer, that anything is possible and that who you are or whom you love should not be impediment to achieving anything in life."