Arizona State offensive lineman comes out as gay

Edward Sarafin, offensive lineman for the Arizona State Sun Devils came out as gay to his teammates in the spring and the local Phoenix-based LGBT sports paper Compete in their August 2014 issue. This makes Sarafin the first Division I college football player to come out of the closet during an active season.

Sarafin is a fifth year senior in biomedical engineering and is currently pursuing his masters and preparing to take the MCAT. His eventual goal is to become a neurologist.

A statement from Arizona State coach Todd Graham said, “We are a brotherhood that is not defined by cultural and personal differences, but rather an individual’s commitment to the Sun Devil Way. Chip is a fifth-year senior and a Scholar Baller, a graduate and a master’s student. His commitment to service is unmatched and it is clear he is on his way to leading a successful life after his playing career, a goal that I have for every student-athlete. Diversity and acceptance are two of the pillars of our program, and he has full support from his teammates and the coaching staff.”