DeProspo reconciles faith, sports and being gay

What is it like to be a conservative, evangelical Christian and collegiate soccer player - and be gay?. Ask Atticus DeProspo '15, who described his journey of self-acceptance to reconcile these aspects of his identity at Soup and Hope, March 13 in Sage Chapel. "Saying those simple words, 'I am gay,' to myself was one of the most liberating experiences in my life," DeProspo said, noting that he "came out" about a year ago. "It was the first step toward becoming comfortable fully in my skin." To get to that point, DeProspo had to work through self-hatred, frustration and confusion, he said. He initially believed that being gay was a sin against God and nature, and his sports involvement exposed him to the homophobic, demeaning sentiments voiced by some of his peers, who valued strength and "traditional" masculinity and used the word "faggot" to describe weak or ineffective male athletes. DeProspo credits the sports world for giving him strength not just on the soccer field but to accept who he is. He also credits the "guidance and love" of his family, teammates, friends and mentors for helping him on his journey.