ASU Offensive Lineman Chip Sarafin Comes Out As Gay

Believed to be the first publicly gay major division college football player, Edward “Chip” Sarafin, has come out publicly as gay.

The backup, 320 pound senior offensive lineman for Arizona State University, told his story to Phoenix-based Compete magazine, a magazine known for “gay sports.”

The article focuses on Chip Sarafin’s educational studies in biomedical engineering, his future goal of becoming a neurologist, and his volunteer work; the public confession was left to the end of the article in an “oh-by-the-way” tone.

According to the article by Joshua Wyrick, Chip Sarafin came out to his Sun Devils teammates last spring, saying, “it was really personal for me and it benefitted my peace of mind greatly.”

"“Sarafin says that he told his teammates moslty for himself and because he wanted them to hear it straight ftom him instead of the college rumor mill that all players find themselves subjected to at some point.”"

Chip Sarafin is a fifth-year senior at ASU and he did not play in a game in a game his first two seasons; there is no mention of him playing in any games last season.

Although there have been other major college football players who have been openly gay (Michael Sam), Chip Sarafin would be the first gay player to tell his story to the media while still playing.

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