Last week, we shared the story of Conner Mertens, the first out-of-the-closet bisexual college football player.  Now, Outsports reports that his boyfriend Chandler Whitney, also an active college athlete, has come out to his team.

Whitney currently attends Walla Walla Community College and plays for their baseball team, The Warriors.  After seeing the positive feedback from Conner's teammates to the news of his sexuality, Whitney felt encouraged to reveal himself to his team who reacted similarly encouragingly:

He stood up in front of the team, said he had contemplated whether to tell them a secret or not, and shared a "confession" he'd been holding back from them since they first met:

'I'm gay.'

The team broke into spontaneous applause. It took Whitney off-guard.

'Being where I am in eastern Washington, it's not the response I expected. I'm in Walla Walla, there's not a lot of open-mindedness on the surface ... "I didn't necessarily expect hostility, but I expected a guy or two to feel uncomfortable or awkward. Everyone on the team shook my hand, gave me a hug and said we're a family and they had my back. The guys I thought would feel the most uncomfortable said don't worry about a thing, it's not a big deal.'

In the article, Whitney also recalls being unaccepted as a high-schooler, often the subject of rumors.  He has been dating his boyfriend for six months.

His team's first game is March 1; Whitney said he will be playing outfield for the Warriors. He expects to play two years for Walla Walla Community College then transfer to a four-year college to earn a degree and play baseball.

Congrats Chandler!  We look forward to hearing more about you in the future!