Brittney Grineris one of the most talked about athletes in the LGBTQ community. Griner has been a vocal advocate for those hiding from the fact of who they truly are. The 8x WNBA All-Star has never shied away from promoting or encouraging youth and elders alike to be true to themselves. Brittney has been a victim of verbal and mental abuse of not being accepted for her gender identity.
Despite all the struggles she faced concerning her sexual orientation or gender identity. She came out when she was in high school, and wasn t accepted by both her parents. Her father,Raymond Griner, would not accept the news of her daughter coming out as gay. Even after being bullied in school for looking like a boy and having a deep voice. She encourages young people to come out without fear.
Back in 2013, Griner talked about coming out to her mother at the 24th Annual GLAAD Media Award in San Francisco. Just recently I came out to the public. I ve been out since about 9th grade, came out to my mom first. My mom was, it was cool it was pretty weird I sat on the stairs she sat in her room, I was like Mom I gotta tell you something, came out, so here she was like, I love you I was like all right well I m gonna go play some video games, Griner said.
Griner discussed what it was like after coming out.It s like a light came on me, on the inside, around me I felt like I was Brittney Griner. I wasn t hiding anymore,Griner continued.
How did Sandra Griner react to her daughter, Brittney Griner coming out as gay?
In the book,In My Skin: My Life On and Off the Basketball Court, Griner talked about opening up about her sexual identity. In many families, the topic of gender identity and sexual orientation quickly turns out into a debate. Many families don t accept the decision their children make. It was the same case with Griner, where her father, Raymond, would not accept his daughter to be gay. With this in mind, she decided to open up to her mother.
Griner opened up about her sexual identity to her mother, Sandra Griner. With the news about her daughter being gay, Sandra s love for Brittney never changed. Mom, I m gay. I hadn t even planned the moment; it just felt right. She smiled, hugged me, and told me she loved me, Griner mentions in her book. To this day, her mother has been supportive of her decision and has been a pillar of strength for her.
