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Minnesota United midfielder, Collin Martin, announced Friday that he was homosexual
Martin, 23, is the only openly gay male athlete active in a major US professional league, after the start when Robbie Rogers retired last November.
Martin wrote in a statement on Twitter that many of his teammates had known about his sexuality for a long time.
"Tonight my team, Minnesota United, is organizing their Pride night, it's a big night for me.I will announce for the first time publicly that I'm an openly gay player in the Major League Soccer.
Tonight, my team, @MNUFC is hosting a Pride party and I will announce that I am an openly gay player in Major League Soccer. #soccerforall pic.twitter.com/cOJQXfrBiv
"As we celebrate the Pride night, I want to thank my teammates for their unconditional support.In the light of my experience as a professional athlete, I want to take this moment to encourage others who practice a sport, professionally or otherwise, to believe that the sport will welcome them wholeheartedly: June is the month of pride and I'm proud to play Pride, and play like a gay man. "
Minnesota United will wear jerseys with Rainbow numbers as the team celebrates the night of pride for Friday's game against FC Dallas.
Martin went through the DC United Academy and played sparingly for his first team, appearing in 32 league games in four seasons after making his debut in MLS in 2013, in addition to playing in the US Open Cup and CONCACAF Champions League.
DC traded Martin to Minnesota before the 2017 season, and he has found more playing time in recent weeks, starting three MLS games and two at the US Open Cup since early May.
"We admire Collin's courage." MLS commissioner Don Garber said in a statement
that Martin is a former American youth international, playing with the national team unless 14 years old, but less than 20 years old. In 2013, he played with the U20 at the Tournoi de Toulon in France.
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