“I came out as a gay as I have earned myself respect as an athlete. I have only lost 2 out of 22 professional fights. I knocked out some of my opponents in the first round. But I never really received respect as a person. That's something I had come to realize over the past few years. The end of my boxing career is no longer that far off, and it was time for me to make peace with myself. And there was a second reason for me to come out: I hoped it would make me a better boxer.” ReasonPastFightingRealizingGayAthleteBoxingSelf RespectOver The PastMaking Peace Author:Orlando Cruz
“Four years ago, I was fighting for the world championship title in Puerto Rico. The spectators bad-mouthed me; they called me a faggot. They told my opponent to pluck my feathers. In Puerto Rico, when you talk disparagingly about a gay man, you call him a duck. That's when I realized that something had to change.” MenWorldFightingGayI RealizedChampionshipFeathersGay MenPuerto Rico Author:Orlando Cruz
“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.” MenWantTryingYearsLooksI CanMightKidsFightingSportsCareersRolesProudGayModelsBeing TrueBoxingBeing The BestRole ModelsGay MenTrue To MyselfProfessional Career Author:Orlando Cruz
