Collin Martin, who came out publicly as gay last summer, appeared on “The Late Late Show with James Corden” on Thursday night to play “Late Late Live Tinder,” picking from an assortment of eligible men in the format of popular dating app Tinder.
The 24-year-old Minnesota United midfielder, currently the only openly gay male athlete in the major five sports leagues, revealed that “there are more gay people than I thought there’d be,” in Minnesota scene. He also said he’s gotten “more DMs” since coming out. “Those are fun.”
Corden played matchmaker with the bachelor, instructing Martin to use a foam finger to swipe right on guys he liked or force rejects into a ball pit on the left.
Watch the segment, below:
Martin came out in June just hours before Minnesota hosted their Pride Night against FC Dallas.
“It’s an important night for me,” Martin tweeted. “I’ll be announcing that I am an openly gay player in Major League Soccer.”
Tonight my team, @MNUFC , is having their Pride night. It's an important night for me — I'll be announcing that I am an openly gay player in Major League Soccer. #soccerforall pic.twitter.com/cOJQXfrBiv
— Collin Martin (@martcw12) June 29, 2018
Following in the footsteps of Robbie Rogers, who came out publicly in 2013 and retired in 2017, Martin is only the second openly gay active player in MLS history.
“I have been out as a gay man for many years to my family and friends, and this includes my teammates,” Martin wrote in his post. “Today, I’m proud that my entire team and the management of Minnesota United know that I am gay. I have received only kindness and acceptance from everyone in Major League Soccer and that has made my decision to come out publicly much easier.”
“As we celebrate Pride night, I want to thank my teammates for their unconditional support for who I am,” he continued. “In light of my experience as a professional athlete, I want to take this moment to encourage others who play sports professionally or otherwise to have confidence that sport will welcome them wholeheartedly. June is Pride month, and I am proud to be playing for Pride, and to be playing as an out gay man.”
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