Basketball player Isaac Humphries blazed a trail when he came out as gay
25-year-old basketball player Isaac Humphries blazed a trail when he came out as gay.
On the court, Isaac Humphries has been making sporting headlines since he was a teenager. But it was in November last year that he caught the world’s attention for a different reason, when he became the first professional top-tier basketball player in Australia to come out as gay, and the only one currently active in the world.
“Just shifting my mentality from having to hide everywhere I go, that’s been the biggest difference for me. I don’t need to lie anymore,” says Humphries of the months since he made his announcement on social media. “It’s been really exciting to be out in a community that I think needs a voice sometimes – and I’m really honoured to be able to be that for people. That’s been the best part about this.”
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The 25-year-old Melbourne United player has also been moved by the outpouring of support he’s received, not just from teammates, fellow players and fans, but from people around the world who’ve reached out to let him know how much his story has helped them handle their own struggles with sexuality.
“Just shifting my mentality from having to hide everywhere I go, that’s been the biggest difference for me. I don’t need to lie anymore.”
“I’ve really enjoyed all of the interactions I’ve had with people in the community and on social media. It’s been really humbling and gratifying,” he says. “But a really special moment for me was when my team was doing an Indigenous round a few weeks ago and an Elder came to present our jerseys. He also presented me with a rainbow serpent shield that said ‘welcome’ in his language and explained it was about welcoming me to the world as the person I truly am. I was really touched by that. I immediately put it on the wall at home because it had such a beautiful meaning.”
Still, Humphries knows there’s still plenty of work to be done to make the sporting arena a more inclusive space for all – and he’s in it for the long haul.
“It’s not going to happen overnight and it’s not going to happen with one person,” he says. “This is a slow burn and it’s something I really need to stick at if I want to make an impact. That’s ultimately what I do want to do. But the more people who come forward and the more it’s normalised within sport, that’s when we’ll start to see a lot of change.
“I just walked off the court with maybe 200 kids who I was training – they knew everything that had happened with me, and they were all so accepting and excited. That was really cool to see because this is the next generation. And it really gives me hope.”
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“The more people who come forward and the more it’s normalised within sport, that’s when we’ll start to see a lot of change.”
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Humphries, who has played internationally in Canada, Serbia and in the NBA, has had a big year with Melbourne United. After a long period spent dogged by injury, he’s almost finished a full season, a major personal goal, and last year he became the youngest player to record 100 blocks (a defensive manoeuvre that deflects another player’s goal attempt) in NBL history. And needless to say, he’s excited for what lies ahead in 2023 – on and off the court.
“I know that I’m the happiest in life when I’m affecting others in a positive way,” says Humphries, who has been open about his struggles with mental health prior to coming out. “I’ve been really, deeply thinking about how much helping others impacts me, and I’m really excited that in the future I can be a voice for people who sometimes don’t have one. That is something that I really love.”
This story appeared in The Pride Issue of WISH, which celebrates the game-changers who are shaping Australia into a more diverse and inclusive society.