Jesse Korteum, a former hockey player, has publicly come forward with a deeply personal truth: he is gay. This wasn't a sudden decision, but a journey years in the making, one finally ignited by a surprising source of inspiration.
Growing up as the youngest of four boys in Minnesota, a state where hockey reigns supreme, Korteum felt a growing disconnect. He loved the game, the physicality, the camaraderie, but a quiet fear gnawed at him – how could he reconcile his sexuality with the hyper-masculine world of the ice?
As a teenager, he carried a weight he couldn’t name, a dichotomy between his passion for hockey and the secret he felt compelled to hide. Positive representation was scarce, and the thought of coming out in high school during the 2000s felt like a guaranteed social catastrophe, ultimately leading him to leave the team.
Even as an adult, playing in New York and Atlanta, Korteum remained closeted to his teammates. He feared judgment, worried about becoming “the gay player” and drawing unwanted attention to the team he respected. The locker room, a space of brotherhood for many, felt like a place of potential isolation for him.
Everything began to shift in 2017 at the Sin City Classic, an annual gay hockey tournament in Las Vegas. Faced with the choice of continuing to hide or abandoning the sport he loved, he attended, and encountered a community he never knew existed – openly gay hockey players.
This experience was a revelation, a “paradigm shift” that altered the course of his life. He described a feeling of finally being seen, of finding belonging in a space where he didn’t have to compartmentalize his identity. Since then, life has been profoundly different.
Korteum credits the connections he forged with other LGBTQ+ players as instrumental in his journey toward self-acceptance and peace. It’s been a vulnerable process, one he acknowledges is still ongoing, but the weight he carried for so long is finally beginning to lift.
He recently expressed gratitude to The Cutting Edges, a 2SLGBTQIA+ hockey association, for reminding him that there is a place for everyone on the ice. Wearing their jersey, he felt a bridge being built, connecting his two worlds after decades of separation.
Korteum’s decision to come out was also sparked by the success of *Heated Rivalry*, a drama centered around gay ice hockey players. He realized the show was resonating with many in the hockey world who were grappling with similar struggles, and he felt compelled to share his own story.
“Never in my life did I think something so positive and loving could come from such a masculine sport,” he reflected. He hopes his story will offer hope to other athletes still in the closet, reminding them they are not alone and that a fulfilling life awaits them.
His message is simple, yet powerful: there is hope, and it *will* be okay. He wants those struggling to find their way to know that a life filled with happiness and authenticity is within reach, and that taking the first step, however daunting, is worth it.
The outpouring of support following his Facebook post has been overwhelming, with many thanking him for his courage and applauding his honesty. Korteum’s story is a testament to the power of vulnerability and the importance of representation.
