Byron perkins boyfriend

Byron Perkins, a defensive back who plays Division I football at Hampton University in Virginia, came out as gay in an Instagram story this week. With his announcement, he is the first out gay football player at a Historically Black College or University."I have come to understand that life is precious and I could be gone at any moment, therefore, I will no longer be living a lie," Perkins posted to Instagram. "No one should have to live a life crippled by what society thinks."Perkins, a 6'3" redshirt junior from De La Salle High School in Chicago, Ill., has 16 tackles and two deflected passes through six games this season. He transferred from Purdue University and has appeared in a total of 11 games over two seasons at Hampton. The Hampton Pirates have a record of 4-2 this season in the Colonial Athletic Association.In an exclusive interview with Cyd Ziegler of OutSports, Perkins said he came out in part to set an example for other Black gay male athletes who are suffering in the closet."Especially at an HBCU, young Black gay men need an outlet," Perkins told Zeigler of OutSports. "They need a support system. There hasn't been an out gay football athlete at an HBCU. I want to end the stigma of what people think. I want people to know they can be themselves."Perkins opened up with Zeigler, sharing the difficulties of being in the closet and how keeping his sexual identity private had hindered his growth as a person."I've been self-reflective and trying to prioritize what makes me happy and makes me feel alive," Perkins told OutSports. "I thought it could be just football and school, but there was a component missing. And recently I've been able to figure out that I haven't been fully happy because everyone

Source: inside-studio / GettyIn 2008, Beyonce once said, “If you like you should have put a ring on it” but members of the LGBTQ community weren’t able to legally marry or “put a ring on it” in all 50 states until 2015 after the US Supreme Court ruled that gay marriage is legal nationwide. Before then couples had to look at the laws in individual states to find where they were “allowed” to marry. You see at the time, 14 states had bans on same-sex marriages but this ruling brought an end to more than a decade of legal battles in the name of love and equality. Then U.S. President Barack Obama called the ruling a “victory for America” and many couples rushed to the alter.While he’s not married, Byron Perkins is also celebrating Black same-sex love this month. The Hampton University student, who is the first openly gay football player at an HBCU, has been reveling during Pride Month with his new boyfriend.In October 2022, the star defensive back made a decision to live in his truth, not realizing that he would soon make history.“…I’m going to make a change and stop running away from myself. I’m gay…Yes, this is who I am, this is who I’ve been, and this is who I’m going to be. Simply put, I am who I am…,” he wrote to his followers at the time.Now, in celebration of the start of this year’s Pride Month, Perkins unapologetically posted a photo of him and his new boo!Byron’s brave step toward embracing his full identity has far-reaching implications for HBCU campus culture, especially within sports. Hopefully, this will serve as a step towards fostering more inclusive athletic environments everywhere.“Especially at an HBCU, young Black gay men need an outlet,” Perkins said at the time he came out. “They need a support system. There hasn’t been an out gay football athlete at an HBCU. I want to end the stigma of what people think. I want people to know they can be themselves.”Perkins added: “It’s about that kid who’s going to see this and think he can be himself too.”Could Perkins and his boo be among the next couples NewsOne adds to the below list that is sure to grow? Only time will tell. In the meantime, please join and help NewsOne celebrate love and equality for all as we list some of our favorite Black

Instagram (@byron.perkinz)We’d love it if the NFL could be just as queer as the WNBA, but we’ll take whatever small representation we can get whenever we can get it.Heading into the 2024 NFL season, the third-out football player in the Draft, Byron Perkins, has his eyes on joining the ranks in any position, from quarterback to cornerback. He is a standout player from Hampton University in Virginia and one of the few players for the Draft to hail from a Historically Black College or University (HBCU).Throughout the NFL Draft history, the first person to ever come out ahead of it was Michael Sam in 2014, who was eventually selected by the Rams during the seventh round. Back in 2020, Scott Frantz was the second player to come out as gay ahead of the Draft, but he never fully made it to the NFL.As for Perkins, his status as an HBCU player may unfortunately impede his chances of making it into the NFL, despite his talent on the field and easygoing attitude. Historically, HBCU students don’t get the attention they deserve. Over the last four drafts, only six HBCU players have made it.“I just want a fair shot,” Perkins told OutSports.“I can only hope to have a sliver of an opportunity. If I go to a free agency situation, even uttering ‘National Football League,’ that’s a privilege. These guys dedicate their lives to being excellent every day. I’ll let the cards fall how they fall and let God lead me in the direction I need to go to be successful.”We are also excited to see him being so open about his sexuality. Carl Nassib, who became the first active NFL player to identify as gay in 2021, recently addressed LGBTQ+ youth and his partnership with the Trevor Project ahead of the second-round pick for the Cleveland Browns, with whom he began his career in 2016.“I’ve continued my support for the Trevor Project because there are kids here in the States, probably around the world, who would rather be dead than be gay and that really crushes me,” he told CNN.Particularly with his status as a gay HBCU player, we’re hopeful Perkins finds success both on and off the field and continues to push for more widespread equality and representation.Scroll through for some pics of this amazing player, and follow him on Instagram, @byron.perkinz, to show your support!