Swimmer Abrahm DeVine Claims He Was Booted From College For Being Gay In Scathing Confessional

 

View this post on Instagram

 

As many of you know, I’m an openly gay swimmer and I am the only one at my level. I want to use this post to call out some of the homophobia that I’ve experienced being an athlete, and encourage everyone to be thoughtful and intentional about changing some of the homophobic aspects of the athletic culture that exists today. While I have many specific examples of micro aggressions and outright aggressions that I’ve experienced, homophobia is ultimately much more than an accumulation of experiences. In fact, it is a denial of experience. While I feel like I’ve tried to convey this to many people, many of whom deny any possibility that they contribute it, I’ve started to ask myself: Why is it my job to educate coaches and athletes at the most resourceful university in the world? I cannot continue to try to engage people in this conversation when there is so much fragility to obscure my humanity and character, so much rhetoric to keep me silent. Everyone says they support me, and yet, for the millionth time, I am the only one speaking up. To my coaches who sport the pride flag on their desk, to the athletes who liked my pride photo on Instagram, I need you to wake up to what’s happening around you. How can you say you support me and my equality? How can you not see how Stanford Swim has treated me and used me over the last 4 years? Am I invisible? Plain and simple: there are surface level reasons I was kicked off the Stanford swim team, but I can tell you with certainty that it comes down to the fact that I am gay. This is a pattern. Homophobia is systematic, intelligently and masterfully designed to keep me silent and to push me out. I am a talented, successful, educated, proud, gay man: I am a threat to the culture that holds sports teams together. I want something to change, because I can’t take it anymore. My story is not unique. There are queer voices everywhere and all you have to do is listen. I am asking, begging for some sort of action. If you are reading this, this post is for you! Gay or straight, swimmer or not. None of us are exempt from homophobia. It is your civil duty to educate yourself. If you choose not to, it is at my expense.

A post shared by Abrahm DeVine (@abrahmdevine) on Sep 29, 2019 at 7:32pm PDT

Twenty-three-year-old swimmer Abrahm DeVine took to Instagram to accuse his former college, Stanford, of discriminatory behavior. He already graduated but claims he was not allowed to rejoin the team as a postgrad because of the fact that he's the only openly gay swimmer on the team:

Plain and simple: There are surface level reasons I was kicked off the Stanford swim team but I can tell you with certainty that it comes down to the fact that I am gay.

He called his team to task by stating:

Why is it my job to educate coaches and athletes at the most resourceful university in the world?

And also stole the intro to my memoir with:

I am a talented, successful, educated, proud gay man: I am a threat to the culture that holds sports teams together.

Stanford's athletic director responded with:

Truly unfortunate Abe feels this way. That said, Abe wasn't invited back to train with us this fall, as a postgraduate, for reasons entirely unrelated to his sexuality.

This sort of allegation unfolding after someone is booted from any type of organization isn't the rarest occurrence in the world, but Abrahm DeVine's case is making the news because he's actually somewhat of a sports star. We'll keep following the story because, well, #Spotlight. Also he's verified on Instagram, and well, here are some innocent pics from that Instagram account!*

 

View this post on Instagram

 

Last night in Danceapore🕺🏼

A post shared by Abrahm DeVine (@abrahmdevine) on Jul 16, 2019 at 6:39am PDT

 

View this post on Instagram

 

THAT FEELING🔥 when you get that finals spot at Worlds!!! Feels good after missing out two years ago:) Soft time but so excited to #diveintopeace tomorrow night with the best in the 🌎, letsgobaby! #finagwangju2019

A post shared by Abrahm DeVine (@abrahmdevine) on Jul 24, 2019 at 9:06am PDT

 

View this post on Instagram

 

Gay and wouldn’t want it any other way🏳️‍🌈 #pride #dickislife

A post shared by Abrahm DeVine (@abrahmdevine) on Jun 30, 2019 at 7:09pm PDT

 

View this post on Instagram

 

I used to be self-conscious about my nipples because they are small. But now, I’m not🏳️‍🌈

A post shared by Abrahm DeVine (@abrahmdevine) on Oct 29, 2018 at 7:33pm PDT

 

View this post on Instagram

 

Big day tomorrow everyone. Your favorite social media #icon is taking over the @usaswimming snapchat for the Santa Clara Pro Swim Series. So make sure to follow along! And get ready to find out what REALLY goes on at a swim meet, tomorrow! Woo!

A post shared by Abrahm DeVine (@abrahmdevine) on Jun 7, 2018 at 9:07pm PDT

 

View this post on Instagram

 

TERRIBLE NEWS everyone. Your favorite swimmer missed the 200 IM final today. I came to World Championships to have fun, and honestly, I'm feeling so attacked rn. But why, you ask, am I still posting a picture of myself smiling??? The truth is, even though swim is life, you just have to accept that things will not always go your way. Moreover, smiling (even when forced) has been scientifically proven to release chemicals to your brain that make you happier. So, no matter what life throws at you, keep smiling, dreaming, and believing.

A post shared by Abrahm DeVine (@abrahmdevine) on Jul 26, 2017 at 12:02pm PDT

 

View this post on Instagram

 

In celebration of me weighing in at ~200 pounds~ this morning (with shoes on). Really proud of the 15 pound gain since NCAAs, and as you can tell it’s all muscle. Working hard pays off! Also @willmac124 hates my caption and said I should caption this, “💪🏼😤”. So basically just like based on whichever caption you prefer

A post shared by Abrahm DeVine (@abrahmdevine) on May 30, 2018 at 8:39pm PDT

*In case you're wondering, I DIDN'T cover this story because Abrahm is physically appealing and I just kind of wanted to look at his body during work hours. I would NEVER and you know that. Like, stop that train of thot right now.

Photo Credit: Instagram