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"Sorry Girls, I'm Gay": Once Bullied, A High School Football Player Comes Out In The Most Unique Way

In November, 17-year-old high-school junior Sean Warren was ready to come out to his classmates and friends at Pinnacle High School in Phoenix, Arizona.

And, as a child of the social-media generation, he wanted to do it in a meme. So he photoshopped himself into this graphic.

And came out in a very millennial way—posting this image to all of his social media accounts under the headline "DEAL WITH IT."

"I just wanted to come out in a unique way," Sean told Outsports. "I was at my friend's house and thought, what if I just Photoshopped a picture of a rainbow behind me? Then I looked at more pictures online and saw the picture I used—which was more retro, it was more of a cartoon. [I thought] 'What if I cropped out his face and used my face instead?'"

Now a member of the varsity football team, Sean experienced a lot of bullying in middle school. (One student was even suspended for his cruelty.) According to Sean's mom, Kathy, says their family has "gone through a lot of pain," as a result of the harassment Sean faced.

He originally joined the Pinnacle football team to compensate for not feeling "tough or manly enough." Now 6', 1, he's been a defensive lineman for the past three seasons.

Coach Dana Zupke commended Sean on his courage and said the experience has opened his own eyes.  "It made me introspective about things that might be said in the weight room," says Zupke. "Football's a culture, an alpha male-dominated environment, [but] one of my perspectives over the years is how much more tolerant and understanding football is."

With just one more year in high school, Sean is looking forward to college—he plans on studying  interior design at Northern Arizona University. But he's not in any rush. "I am looking forward to a really fun year and getting to play one more season with my brothers."

Bravo, Sean!

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