December 8, 2020

My name is Jonny Vriesema, and I am a 28-year-old gay man. I am in my sixth year of teaching physical education, including time spent in Jacksonville, Florida, Miami, Florida, and now Worcester, Massachusetts.

I grew up in what I like to call the “white picket fence” household in Whitinsville, Massachusetts. Two middle class, white parents with four children in a small neighborhood with a beautiful backyard and kind neighbors. Many would describe this as a small piece of the American dream. I went to the same private, Christian school and Christian Reformed Church from Pre-K-12th grade. After graduation, I went to a private, Christian college for four years. Following undergrad, I fulfilled my student teaching requirement at one of the top 25 Christian schools in the country in northern New Jersey.

I knew I was different, but I had no idea why. I vividly remember caring for the well-being of my male classmates. I always desired that they were happy. I constantly thought of them before myself. Who feels this way in kindergarten? As my feelings continued to slowly develop for boys, sports became my primary method of escape. I spent countless hours practicing, depending on what sports season it was. I was a three-sport athlete from the age of 5 until I graduated high school.

For over a decade, I struggled with my sexuality and told absolutely nobody. Honestly, I thought I would die with this secret, and I was content with that. However, covering my tracks, making excuses, and remembering the many different conversations about why I was “focused on my schoolwork or my career” more than my dating life became so incredibly exhausting that it wasn’t worth keeping up the ruse any longer.

I have been publically out for just over three years, dating back to the Facebook post I made back on September 11, 2017. However, that was just a piece of my story. I wanted to continue to share my testimony and help victims of sexual assault as well as those who identify as LGBTQ. Outsports granted me an opportunity to share my entire story with the world on September 26, 2019. I have endured so much through my life thus far, but that has allowed me so much opportunity to grow, understand the world we live in, and connect with numerous others who are on a similar path to me.

I know it may sound cliche, but I would strongly encourage anyone who is looking for support to reach out to organizations like Safe Space NOVA, Outsports, The Trevor Project, or to me! As someone who has come out publicly, received thousands of messages from others who are closeted or are scared of coming out, and having wrote a book, I take a huge sense of responsibility in being a voice to the voiceless and helping others find confidence and self-worth in themselves while navigating the tough road to acceptance and love.

“My mission is to change the way people see the world. Everybody has a perspective or a lens they see things through, and hopefully I can adjust that lens or change that lens so that they see things from a different perspective, a different lens.”  -Lecrae 

Sincerely,
Jonny Vriesema
Facebook: Jonny Vriesema
Instagram: @jvreez27
Email: jvriesema27@gmail.com

Outsports Articles: 

https://www.outsports.com/2019/9/26/20861926/jonathan-vriesema-gay-sports-coming-out

https://www.outsports.com/2020/3/24/21190145/coronavirus-lgbtq-sports-impact-jonathan-vriesma