GOLF
Professional Golfer Tadd Fujikawa Has An Important Message and It’s More Than That He’s Gay
Tadd Fujikawa is a professional golfer and a pretty good one at that. At just 15 years old he qualified for the U.S. Open becoming the youngest player to achieve that milestone. Fujikawa grew up in Hawaii and is of Japanese descent. Oh, and he also happens to be gay.
Tadd Fujikawa made the world aware of his sexuality via Instagram on September 10th, World Suicide Prevention Day. His news was simple, he is a golfer who happens to be a member of the LGBTQIA community. His message was much more complex and powerful.
He begins his open letter with an acknowledgment that not everyone reading his post will understand or be in support of who he is and what he has to say. He then asks that people be gracious enough to give him the same courtesy that he was extending, to not push their views onto others. In light of what the day represented, Tadd went onto describe his mental health struggles regarding coming out, both in the past and in the present. Fujikawa said, “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.”
“I Remember How Much Other’s Stories Have Helped Me in My Darkest Times to Have Hope”
Tadd Fujikawa at first never planned to come out in this way or even at all. He writes in the post, “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.” So why come out and on World Suicide Prevention Day?
Tadd explains, “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. Whether the LGBTQ is what you support or not, we must liberate and encourage each other to be our best selves, whatever that may be. It’s the only way we can make this world a better place for future generations.” He later says that he hoped the post would, “inspire each and every one of you to be more empathetic and loving towards one another.”
Standing on Strong Shoulders
Tadd is not the first professional athlete to come out. Before him, there was Glenn Lawrence Burke, Justinus Soni “Justin” Fashanu, Jason Collins, Andrew Goldstein, Brittney Yevette Griner, and Billie Jean King, just to name a few. King was outed back in 1981 which she described as “horrible”. When advised to lie and deny her sexuality she responded, “I said: ‘I’m going to do it. I don’t care. This is important to me, to tell the truth… The one thing my mother always said, ‘To thine own self be true.”
Sadly, things did not become much easier at first for the aforementioned athletes who came out after the tennis legend. Just read the Instagram comments on Fujikawa’s post and it will become apparent how polarizing a message of love and tolerance can still be. While those comments themselves do not deserve the ink on the page, their existence is important to mention. In credit to the athletes and activists that went before Tadd, the overall response has been one of celebration, acceptance, and gratitude.
However, Tadd Fujikawa doesn’t want it to be about him. Tadd tells followers, “I don’t want this to be focused on me. I just want to spread love and acceptance to others who are in a similar situation. If anyone out there is struggling, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me. YOU ARE LOVED AND YOU ARE ENOUGH…AS IS, EXACTLY AS YOU ARE!”
Tadd’s Hope
At the end of his statement, Tadd told his followers his hope for the future. “I can’t wait for the day we all can live without feeling like we’re different and excluded. A time where we don’t have to come out, we can love the way we want to love and not be ashamed. We are all human and equal after all. So I dare you…spread love. Let’s do our part to make this world a better place.”
On a day that illuminates mental illness and suicide, reminding those that there is hope, Tadd reminded us to be empathetic loving. While a large portion of the population has struggled with mental health issues, few publicize such struggles. Tadd’s message is not just for members of the LGBTQIA community or people that have struggled with depression or suicidal thoughts. Tadd’s message is for everyone: we are all equal and deserving of love, so let’s do our part to make that a reality in our world.
So whatever your stance is on gay rights and marriage equality, whatever doctrine you hold true, and whether you pray to a God or not, I dare you, spread love. At the end of the day, it always wins. Oh, and Tadd, thank you.
Follow Lauren on Twitter and Instagram @LaurenP_52
Photo credit to Mackenzie Tour PGA TOUR Canada via Flickr
