Luke Prokop: First NHL Player to Come Out as Gay

Luke Prokop fans might be a little disappointed with only 10 posts on his Instagram account. The first one dated back to Feb. 9, 2020 and the most recent was on July 19, 2021. We can say he might be a private NHL player, but his privacy didn’t prevent him from sharing to the world his core identity that only a few people close to him knew.

Luke Prokop made July 19 a significant day for the rest of his life. The hockey player came out as gay to the world on his Instagram account, making it a little easier for many others to follow his lead.

At 19 years old, the right-handed defenseman is the first out NHL player. The Nashville Predators draft picked him in 2020.

Out of all four major men’s sports teams, only one player, Jason Collins, actively played for the Brooklyn Nets. After he came out in April 2013, he retired nine months later.

“I was lying in bed one night, had just deleted a dating app for the fourth or fifth time, and I was extremely frustrated because I couldn’t be my true, authentic self,” Prokop tells ESPN. “In that moment I said, ‘Enough is enough. I’m accepting who I am. I want to live the way I want to, and I want to accept myself as a gay man.’”

Prokop has received a lot of support from his teammates and the NHL after coming out. Even his Instagram grew in support.

“A long-stated goal in our organization is equality for all, including the LGBTQ community, and it is important that Luke feels comfortable and part of an inclusive environment as he moves forward in his career,” says Sean Henry, president and CEO of the Predators.

Just one month prior, Carl Nassib, National Football League player, came out as gay in an Instagram video.

“I just think that representation and visibility are so important,” says the Vegas Raiders defensive lineman. “I actually hope that one day videos like this, and the whole coming out process are just not necessary. But until then, I’m going to do my best and do my part to cultivate a culture that’s accepting, that’s compassionate.”

Nassib will soon be the first active player for the NFL.

For men’s major sports, it is significant that two men came out as gay within a month of each other. Although Prokop said he wasn’t inspired to by Nassib to come out, he did say give a salute to the people before him who came out on his Instagram post: “I am eager to learn about the strong and resilient people who came before me and paved the way so I could be more comfortable today.”