Former Aussie Hockey Star Comes Out, Discusses Homophobia

Champion hockey goalkeeper Gus Johnston is making headlines in his native Australia and around the world for a video he posted last month on YouTube in which he outs himself as gay.

In the 12-minute clip, called The Reality of Homophobia in Sport, Johnston says, "I'm a writer, art director, filmmaker, and a hockey goalkeeper. I'm also a gay man -- and that's something I never thought I would say in such a public forum."

Johnston, who retired from the sport almost a year ago after playing for Australia's Victoria team for 12 years, expresses regret that he didn't "step up" during his hockey career, but says he's coming out now to let young gay athletes know they're not alone.

Another objective, he says, is to make the sports community as a whole aware of how hurtful the gossip and antigay jokes thrown around in locker rooms can be.

Read more about Johnston and other gay Australian athletes at The Sydney Morning Herald.

Watch Johnston's video below.