Soccer player steps onto the field for the first time since coming out, and the crowd loses it

Last week, soccer player Collin Martin made a big announcement on Twitter, just hours before his team hosted their Pride Night:

“I am announcing for the first time publicly that I am an openly gay player in Major League Soccer,” Martin wrote. “June is Pride month, and I am proud to be playing for Pride, and to be playing as an out gay man.”

Martin never ended up taking the field during that game (rude), but on Wednesday he made his athletic debut as an out and proud gay man.

While he was on the bench for most of the game, in the 79th minute he was sent out onto the field.

And the crowd. Went. Wild.

Martin received a standing ovation, and the moment could be felt reverberating across the stadium.

Sports reporter Jeff Reuter tweeted: “A standing ovation as Collin Martin is announced. Goosebumps.”

After the game, he added: “After the final whistle, every #MNUFC player and coach drifted towards Martin for high-fives and hugs. Great to see the team supporting the midfielder.”

@LGBT.Soccer posted: “The crowd roars as @martcw12 takes the pitch for his first match as a publicly out gay man”.

And new anchor Kevin Jesus posted a big rainbow heart, captioning it: “HUGE! A standing ovation for @martcw12 who enters tonight’s @MNUFC vs @torontofc game… first time he’s stepped on the field since coming out last week. No doubt the #LGBTQ community and allies are all supporting him. So awesome.”

Congrats, Collin!

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