Brazilian volleyball player Douglas Souza comes out in sport again
Douglas Souza – currently with Calippo Vibo Valentia – recently came out in a video made with his mother.
‹‹ I don’t want to be an example, but a mirror, the mirror that I didn’t have. I would like people who are ashamed or lonely to be able to say: if he made it, I can make it too. That’s why I said publicly that I was gay››.
Douglas Souza
Gold in Rio 2016 won a Brazilian championship and a South American club championship, as well as being named the best spiker at the 2018 World Cup and currently plays in Italy at the Calippo Vibo Valentia club.
‹‹ I am proof that an LGBT athlete can make it to the top without paying for his courage. I don’t want to be an example, but a mirror, the mirror that I didn’t have. I would like people who are ashamed or lonely to be able to say: if he made it, I can make it. That’s why I said publicly that I was gay››.
Douglas Souza
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Interviewed by La Repubblica, Douglas Souza (26) told of his coming out to his family when he was 18.
‹‹ For me, it was very natural, I knew it from a very young age. When I was 18, I had my first real contract with a team and I became financially independent. Then I took my boyfriend to my parents and they, of course, understood everything››.
Douglas Souza
Asked about bullying, the Brazilian champion replied: ‹‹ I was very tall and a strong player from a young age, which probably prevented people from picking on me. Everything has always been quite calm. Then it is clear that you have to be on the moon not to see the looks and not to hear some jokes, but I have not experienced dramatic episodes, those that unfortunately many young people are forced to suffer››.