Pride Awards 2009- Lavender Magazine- June 2009

8/7/2019 Pride Awards 2009- Lavender Magazine- June 2009

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EseraTuaolo

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II byAmberSchadewald]

verybody loves a

man in a uniform,

but you're not al-

lowed to talk about

it if vou wear one.

Esera Tuaolo knows that. A pro-

fessional football player for nine

years, and in the closet for 35,

coming out to a bunch of macho

men wasn't really an option for

him. But when he retired from

the sport, and became a father, it

felt like the only option.In 2003, Ttaolo becameone of few pro-

fessional athletes ever to announce his ho-

mosexuality.The firestorm of interviews andtelevision appearancesthat followed kept hisprivate life public for years afterward.

"The ideaof coming ou t was never in

my vocabulary" Tiraolo says about tellinghis secretwhile still playing football. "Butraising children in the closet is difficu lt. Igot tired of calling my parrner [the chil-dren's]uncle. I wastaking awayrights from

the personI love-taking awayhis rights at

being a father."Tiraolo'sannouncement brought more

lettersof supportthan hate.Families,kids,sports fans, and people from around theworld sent their love, thanking him for hiscourage. He read e-mails from childrenstruggling with their sexuality,as well asletters from familieswhose loved ones hadended their lives, and farnil ies who were

looking for direction and hope.

"It was then that I realizedmy life hada purpose,"Tiraolo shares,with tearsin his

eyesat thosememories.Today,Tuaolo travelsthe country speak-

ing out againsthomophobiaat schools,col-leges,organizations,and companies.

Tuaolo states,"My job right now is sav-ing lives."

Sitting in his kitchen recently, Tiraololooks to be at peace,full ofgood energy:"Iwakeup h.ppy," he remarks.

Tuaolo's children are 8; his motier isvisiting from Hawaii; and, most notably,his music career has just hit the groundrunning. A singer since age 5, he always

dreamed of making his own solo album,and this spring, his first CD, Esera,wasreleased-part pop- rock, hip-hop, Polyne-sian,and evenJamaican.

fu Tuaolo observes,"It's alwaysbeen apassionof mine to perform, and now thatI'm finished with football and coming out,it wasfinallv time."

Tuaoloevenstanedhis ownoroduction com-pany,Tlvai Inc.,to zupponnewlocalta.lent

As Tiraolo explains, "I keep gettingaskedif my musi c or the label is for 'gay'

music.The answeris no.Just becauseI'm agay persondoesn'tmeanit definesme.Peo-ple don't call themselvesa straight singer.

Those labelsare holding us all back."As for the fucure, Tlaolo wants to be

able to get married in Minnesota.As Tuaolo puts it, "But really,I justdo

what I do, somy kids will grow up in a bet-ter world. Helping peopleis my purposeinlife. As much asI appreciateit, I don't needawardsfor things you're expectedto do."I



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end lindres oversec the wnole pr<rcess'tending

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an,i Englcnrann remark,uith straight lrces'

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Documents

Pride Awards 2009- Lavender Magazine- June 2009