The Power of Representation and Visibility
Austin Hertzler
6/26/2023
When you’re in the closet, you’re often in situations where friends, family, classmates, or teammates are unknowingly denigrating you, and worse, you’re forced to play along - denigrating yourself.
I’ve known I was different for as long as I can remember.
It wasn’t until I was old enough to understand labels that I knew it was because I was gay. Representation was hard to come by growing up in a small, conservative town. I never saw people like me, and the people I did see living authentically weren’t being celebrated - quite the opposite. When you’re in the closet, you’re often in situations where friends, family, classmates, or teammates are unknowingly denigrating you, and worse, you’re forced to play along - denigrating yourself.
Eventually, I moved off to college where for the first time I experienced more diversity and saw representation of the LGBTQ community openly coexisting with the rest of the world. Things were better, but I still walked around carrying the weight of living two separate lives.
There is a large, powerful community out here ready to welcome you with open arms and love you just as you are.
In 2019, I moved to Louisville to take my first full-time job in collegiate athletics - here, at the University of Louisville. That move changed my life.
Here, I found a truly diverse community - a city that celebrated differences. I found the courage to branch out and make gay friends who exposed me to gay culture. They challenged me to grow. I began to notice the queer personalities in sports and media who were being celebrated for their authenticity. A gay Peloton instructor, a gay man on a professional football team, or a show about five gay men giving someone’s life a makeover may seem small to many but it means the world to someone trying to figure out where they fit in the world. I owe all of these people a lot because it’s from them that I found hope and confidence.
In 2021, I came out to my family, who accepted me with open arms, and shortly after I came out publicly. I’ve lost some friends and become more distant from others, but I learned to love myself and I’ve never felt freer. I couldn’t have done that without the strength that I derived from others- my friends, my partner, queer public figures… the visibility of queer people living public, successful lives.
I share my story, not for attention, but because one person might read it and find the encouragement to carry on one more day.
Representation and visibility matter. That’s what Pride is all about. It’s a month to show LGBTQ people who may feel isolated and alone that there is a light at the end of the tunnel, and that our lives are worth, not just living, but celebrating. There is a large, powerful community out here ready to welcome you with open arms and love you just as you are.
To our allies, it’s more important than ever to be vocal about your allyship. You may never see the impact you have, but I promise you that it doesn’t go unnoticed by your closeted teammate, coworker, neighbor, friend, or stranger at the supermarket.
Left: Austin and his partner, Noah, on the field following a football game. Middle: Austin with Lottie Stockwell & Olivia Bivin at a Cardinals football game. Right: Austin and Noah at Churchill Downs for Derby.
The nature of sports makes it that much harder to be out. I share my story, not for attention, but because one person might read it and find the encouragement to carry on one more day. I wear a pride watch band, not to stand out, but because one student-athlete might notice it and feel that much safer and supported. I see you, I’m here for you, and I love you.
In Pride,
Austin Hertzler
