The past year has certainly been an amazing roller coaster ride for basketball star Brittney Griner. After coming out as gay to the world, the NCAA champion became the 2013 number one WNBA draft pick, got attention from the NBA, signed with the WNBA’s Mercury Phoenix and then became a spokesperson for Nike. Now, the acclaimed b-baller has released her own memoir, In My Skin: My Life On and Off the Basketball Court, and recently spoke with Elixher about being an LGBT role model.
During the interview, Griner talked about writing her memoir at the beginning of her career and explained that she wants to take the opportunity now to be an open book and an inspiration to LGBT youth.
“Many people wait until after their career is over or coming to an end. I wanted to do it at the beginning of my career. I didn’t want to wait that long for people to hear my story. I want kids to have somebody they can look up to and relate to, because when I was growing up I didn’t have anyone to look up to. It’s happening right now, everyday; struggling with coming out, just making it in sports with being openly gay,” she said.
And even though Griner is now one of the most famous openly gay athletes in the world, she explains that not much in her life has changed since gaining the newfound stardom.
“It hasn’t really changed too much, but I get more love on social media. On Twitter and on Instagram, I get more kids reaching out to me, telling me what they’re going through and asking me for advice, which I love. I wanted that to happen because I want to help. I don’t want everyone to go through what I went through; being alone,” Griner said.
And besides being an example to the LGBT community, Griner says that she wants to be an example to other black women to break out of expected molds and just be their genuine selves, whether it’s the popular or acceptable thing or not.
“It definitely feels great to break the mold. I’m definitely not the silent one and one to conform. If I can be an example and show younger African American women and little girls that we have a voice, that’s amazing to me,” Griner said.
Griner is representing for people of all races, genders and sexual expressions. And, if she releases another memoir during the dusk of her career, she’ll be an even greater example of hope and truth to her fans. – nicholas robinson
