Soccer Player Comes Out

Neal Broverman

Neal Broverman is the Editorial Director, Print of Pride Media, publishers of The Advocate, Out, Out Traveler, and Plus, spending more than 20 years in journalism. He indulges his interest in transportation and urban planning with regular contributions to Los Angeles magazine, and his work has also appeared in the Los Angeles Times and USA Today. He lives in the City of Angels with his husband, children, and their chiweenie.

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Neal Broverman

November 10 2011 5:55 PM EST

November 17 2015 5:28 AM EST

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David Testo, a 30-year-old former MVP for the Montreal Impact soccer team, came out in an interview with CBC Radio Canada.

"I'm gay, I'm gay. I did not choose. It's just part of who I am. And it has nothing to do with the talent of a soccer player. You can be both an excellent soccer player and being gay," Testo said this week. "I really regret not having said publicly earlier. I fought with it all my life, my whole career. Living the life of a professional athlete and being gay is incredibly difficult ... It saps all your energy to you, in addition to having to perform, having to play."

A native of North Carolina, Testo started his professional soccer career playing for the Columbus Crew in the MLS League. He moved to the Montreal Impact in 2007 and was named its most valuable player two years ago. Though the public was in the dark about Testo's orientation, he says his family, friends, and even teammates knew. Read more here.