日系人男子プロゴルフ選手のタッド・フジカワ（Tadd Fujikawa）が、ゲイであることをカミングアウトした。男子ゴルフでは史上初めてとなる。

現在27歳のタッド・フジカワは、2006年に当時15歳で全米オープン史上最年少出場を果たしたゴルフ選手。

9月10日の「世界自殺予防デー」に合わせ、自身のインスタグラムにてこうカミングアウトした。

「気づいている人は多いと思いますが、僕はゲイです。みんなに理解してほしい、受け入れてほしいとは思っていません。誰に知られようとも関係ないことだから、カミングアウトする必要はないと思っていました。ただ本当の自分を隠しことがいやでした。いつも周りが何と言うか恐れていて、メンタルもずっと崩れていました。自分のセクシュアリティを明かすかどうか悩んでいましたが、他の人のカミングアウトに私は救われましのです」

「他人にどう思われたり言われたりするのか、いつもずっと恐れており、そのことが原因で長い間ずっと精神的に問題を抱えていて、悪い状態に追い込んでいました。いま僕は他のLGBTQコミュニティーに刺激を与えるために立ち上がろうと決意しました。この世界をより良い場所にするために」

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*PLEASE READ* Coincidentally, today is world suicide prevention day. However, I was going to share this regardless. So…I'm gay. Many of you may have already known that.😅 I don't expect everyone to understand or accept me. But please be gracious enough to not push your beliefs on me or anyone in the LGBTQ community. My hope is this post will inspire each and every one of you to be more empathetic and loving towards one another. I've been back and forth for a while about opening up about my sexuality. I thought that I didn't need to come out because it doesn't matter if anyone knows. But I remember how much other's stories have helped me in my darkest times to have hope. I spent way too long pretending, hiding, and hating who I was. I was always afraid of what others would think/say. I've struggled with my mental health for many years because of that and it put me in a really bad place. Now I'm standing up for myself and the rest of the LGBTQ community in hopes of being an inspiration and making a difference in someone's life. Although it's a lot more accepted in our society today, we still see children, teens, and adults being ridiculed and discriminated against for being the way we are. Some have even taken their lives because of it. As long as those things are still happening, I will continue to do my best to bring more awareness to this issue and to fight for equality. Whether the LGBTQ is what you support or not, we must liberate and encourage each other to be our best selves, whatever that may be. It's the only way we can make this world a better place for future generations. I don't want this to be focused on me. I just want to spread love and acceptance to others who are in a similar situation. If anyone out there is struggling, please don't hesitate to reach out to me. YOU ARE LOVED AND YOU ARE ENOUGH…AS IS, EXACTLY AS YOU ARE!❤️ I can't wait for the day we all can live without feeling like we're different and excluded. A time where we don't have to come out, we can love the way we want to love and not be ashamed. We are all human and equal after all. So I dare you…spread love. Let's do our part to make this world a better place.🏳️‍🌈❤️💛💚💙💜

Tadd Fujikawaさん(@taddy808)がシェアした投稿 – 2018年 9月月10日午後7時50分PDT

プロゴルフ男子選手としては史上初めてのカミングアウトに、全米ゴルフ協会（PGA）も「勇気ある行動と力強いメッセージだ」と称賛。

ちなみにゴルフ業界全体でいえば、デンマーク出身のミアン・バガー選手が、トランスジェンダー女性としてはじめて国際大会へ出場している。

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