All-state swimmer Jack Thorne comes out as gay

Jack Thorne just finished his junior year at Berthoud. He is an all-state swimmer who competes for nearby Thompson Valley (Berthoud doesn’t field a team). Monday, Thorne came out as gay on Twitter, Facebook and OutSports.com.

He is believed to be the first openly gay high school athlete in Colorado.

Thorne won the 100 butterfly and 100 backstroke championships at May’s Class 4A state meet. His time of 48.824 in the 100 back set the meet record. Thorne was also part of Thompson Valley’s 400 freestyle relay team which placed third, and in June was named to CHSAANow.com’s 4A all-state team.

In a letter Monday, Thorne wrote that he wants “to be the person that 14 year old me didn’t have, I want to help that 14 year old realize it’s going to get better. If I can do that, or if I can change somebody’s mind about the LGBT community then this will have been worth it.”

Last year, CHSAA became the first state high school association to team up with the You Can Play! project, which takes a stand against homophobia in sports.

The association launched You Can Play, Colorado! which included a state-wide video contest. The winning submissions were shown at the state basketball championships. That initiative was part of CHSAA’s We Are CHSAA positive leadership campaign.

“One piece of our positive leadership campaign was that kids that are struggling with coming out shouldn’t feel isolated nor an inability to express themselves,” CHSAA commissioner Paul Angelico said on Tuesday. “We hope that in some way it was helpful.”

Thorne’s full letter is being republished from his Twitter post on Monday afternoon:

I’ve spent months trying to figure out how to do this, when to do this and I’ve realized there’s never going to be a perfect time to say what I want to say. But there’s no time like the present. I’m gay. Some of you already know, and for some of you this may come as a surprise. Nothing has changed, I’m still the same Jack, the same Jack you race, the same Jack who you carpool with, the same Jack screaming for you on the side of the pool. This doesn’t define me, I’m not gay Jack, I’m just Jack. Being gay happens to be one of the many things that make me who I am, it’s not what defines me and I won’t let it define me.

I’m not doing this for attention, I’m doing this because I want to be able to be myself and I want to be able to help somebody. I want to be the person that 14 year old me didn’t have, I want to help that 14 year old realize that it’s going to get better. If I can do that, or if I can change somebody’s mind about the LGBT community then this will have been worth it.

I’ve had some people try to discourage me from doing this the way I am. If my close friends and family know, why should I tell the world about it? Unfortunately we live in a world where people are treated differently because they love someone of the same sex, one where kids are bullied and picked on because of this, one where people would rather end their own lives than face this discrimination and hostility. I wish we lived in a world where people didn’t have to pretend to be something they’re not and where people didn’t have to come out at all, but unfortunately we do. My sexual orientation is no more significant than my hair color, it’s part of me, but it isn’t something that defines who I am.

I want to thank my friends and family who have supported me. You are amazing. The world is changing for the better and I hope I can be part of that change and help break down those stereotypes and misconceptions people have about the LGBT community.

The last portion is for those of you who are struggling. The way you’re feeling right now, it isn’t always going to be like this. A year ago I was just like you, alone, sad, scared, I was pushing my friends away and I hated this part of me. Now I’ve come full circle and I’m actually proud of who I am. I’ve had help and support from some amazing people all the way through this process. Now that I’m here, I want to be able to help someone like those people helped me. You don’t have to deal with this alone. If you need advice, or just someone to talk to I’m here.

On that note, I have some very important things to do such as swim, eat and sleep, so I will end this with a thank you to those of you who have taken the time to read this letter.