TJ House, the former American Professional baseball pitcher, announced his engagement this week, and fans are showering him with love. This 33-year-old baseball Pitcher debuted his sports journey for the Cleveland Indians and played with them for two years from 2014-2016. He then played for the Toronto Blue Jays in 2017 before he retired.
On 8th December 2022, he came out as gay announcing his engagement to Ryan Neitzel. He announced the news on Facebook. He is the third MLB player to come out as gay. Usually, in sports that are considered as a “Masculine Interest,” coming out stories are rare.
TJ House and Ryan Neitzel
Apart from him, Glenn Burke and Billy Bean have come out as gay. Glenn Burke played for the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Oakland Athletics. Billy Bean was a player for the Los Angeles Dodgers, San Diego Padres, and Detroit Tigers. Burke played in the 80s while Bean was in the 90s.
TJ House’s Coming out the letter
This former MLB player announced his engagement to his love Ryan Neitel through a heartfelt Facebook post. The player expressed that he has been loved as a baseball pitcher his whole love. But that love was the bandage that covered his wound that he now wanted to rip off and heal. He felt shame inside him, but the power of love set him free and healed those shame.
He has kept his sexuality a secret for many years. In the Facebook post, he talks about healing from the hate he received throughout the years. He is growing as a person and trying to be comfortable in his own skin. “I’ve been locked up for 20-plus years,” the Baseball player writes as he narrates the painful experience of being in the closet.
T J House via Getty
On 13th December 2022, president Biden signed the respect for marriage act bill into law. This is a landmark legislation that granted federal protection to same-sex and interracial couples. The baseball player mentioned this act in his Facebook post, saying that it allowed him and his fiance, Neitzel, to come together and create something beautiful.
This new law surely did bring some change to society and people. House commented that it was this law that gave them the confidence to proceed with his decision to get married to the love of his life.
TJ House’s Engagement announcement
TJ House is the third man to come out as gay in the history of MLB players. Due to these statistics, it was hard for him to come out. It took him years to come to terms with the reality of a sports player coming out as gay. He even mentioned that he felt “shameful” in his Facebook post.
House had everything. In fact, from the outside, he was living his best life. He was the relief pitcher for the Cleveland Guardian and the Toronto Blue Jays. He had fame, money, and everything, and yet he was lacking in something. It was the freedom to be himself.
When he said that shame kept him quiet all this year from coming out, it speaks volumes. When it comes to sports and even entertainment, the stigma towards the LGBTQ community is still working. In fact, out of the three gay MLB players, only Glenn Burke came out while he was playing.
TJ House and Ryan Neitzel Credit: T.J House Facebook
That is the reason why he had to hide for so long, but love is love, and it cannot be hidden. Hence in his post, he writes he is ready to rip off that bandage and allow himself to heal. Love is for everyone. The player said in his coming out post. This might give strength to all the closeted players to someday come out and embrace their identity.
TJ House’s Partner
TJ House announced his engagement to Ryan Neitzel through Facebook. The couple recently posted a picture of them celebrating the respect for marriage act in front of the white house. The couple announced their engagement news the same day as the bill passed by the president.
It was a special day for them as well as the whole community. As of now, nothing much is known about their wedding plans. They are finally letting themself seen as a couple and will be able to plan their marriage soon.
