Pro Golfer Tadd Fujikawa Comes Out As Gay

In a heartfelt post on his Instagram account, golfer Tadd Fujikawa publicly came out as gay.

"So...I'm gay," Fujikawa wrote. "Many of you may have already known that. I don't expect everyone to understand or accept me. But please be gracious enough to not push your beliefs on me or anyone in the LGBTQ community. My hope is this post will inspire each and every one of you to be more empathetic and loving towards one another."

He continued: 

"I've been back and forth for a while about opening up about my sexuality. I thought that I didn't need to come out because it doesn't matter if anyone knows. But I remember how much other's stories have helped me in my darkest times to have hope. I spent way too long pretending, hiding, and hating who I was. I was always afraid of what others would think/say. I've struggled with my mental health for many years because of that and it put me in a really bad place. Now I'm standing up for myself and the rest of the LGBTQ community in hopes of being an inspiration and making a difference in someone's life. Although it's a lot more accepted in our society today, we still see children, teens, and adults being ridiculed and discriminated against for being the way we are. Some have even taken their lives because of it. As long as those things are still happening, I will continue to do my best to bring more awareness to this issue and to fight for equality."

According to PinkNews, 27-year-old Fujikawa is the first professional golfer to openly come out as gay. When he was 15 years old in 2006, he was the youngest player to ever qualify for the US Open.

Congrats, Tadd! And welcome to the family!