I Came Out While Attending The Most Conservative University In America
In 2011 I was offered a scholarship to swim at Texas A&M University! Later that year in August I packed up my bags in Wellington, New Zealand and boarded a plane to Texas. At the time I was a young 18-year-old girl who had no idea what my life ahead looked like. All I knew was that I was going to be able to study full-time, continue my swimming career (something not easily done in New Zealand) and have some amazing life experiences.
The Most Underwhelming Realisation
Now at the time, I didn’t know I was queer. To be honest I hadn’t really given my sexuality much thought at all. I didn’t grow up in a conservative household but I also didn’t really have anyone who identified as gay in my life that I knew of. As I got older I started to find boys attractive but also had really close female friendships. I didn’t think anything of it.
Looking back though there were some signs I probably should have picked up on. My two favourite movies were Blue Crush and Bend It Like Beckham, I think deep down it wasn’t actually because of the sport.
However, it wasn’t until the summer of 2014 that I started to really question my sexuality. I was lucky enough that it was nothing that I ever felt ashamed of. I know some people have a really tough…
