High School Coach: 'Those of Us Who Are Gay Need to Stand Up and Own it.'

Shane Wickes is a varsity offensive line coach for the McQueen High School football team in Reno, Nev. As Outsports reported, he recently revealed to the world a secret that he said had caused him enormous conflict his entire life.

"My truth is this. I am a former college football player. I am a current high school football coach, and I am gay," said Wickes in a TEDx talk at the Univ. of Nevada-Reno this month.

Wickes spoke openly about his bouts with depression and a suicide attempt. He said he decided he needed to come out for the sake of the kids who might be gay around him.

"Sharing our truth is the only way we can have the impact we want to have," Wickes said in his talk, which is posted on the TEDx Talks YouTube channel. "One day being gay in football will be normal. But in order for that to happen, those of us who are gay need to stand up and own it."

PinkNews reported he finally realized what he needed to do while attending a coaching clinic.

"I battled with this truth for a long time, personally, professionally and certainly in my coaching and athletic career,"said Wickes in the talk.

Watch Shane Wickes come out in his TEDx Talk, below.