Professional wrestler comes out as gay and says he tried ‘conversion’ therapy

PinkNews logo on pink background with rainbow corners.

A professional wrestler has come out as gay and said he tried to ‘cure’ his homosexuality.

Mike Parrow, a 34-year-old wrestler from Orlando, Florida came out as gay in a new interview.

He tells Gay Star News: “I’ve always known I’m gay… That was never a question in my mind.”

Professional wrestler comes out as gay and says he tried ‘conversion’ therapy

The wrestler, who is 6’4″ and 300 pounds, says he went to Catholic school and came from a small New York town.

“The only exposure I saw of any gay culture was extremely effeminate and that was what was on TV. I’m not like Jack on Will and Grace, so I’m not gay,” he adds.

RELATED: Here’s how one drag wrestler is changing the face of the sport

Professional wrestler comes out as gay and says he tried ‘conversion’ therapy

He says he kept his sexuality a secret for years, instead trying to focus on “manly stuff”.

“I played football and did manly stuff. It wasn’t because I was gay. Those were the things I gravitate to – competitive stuff.”

After trying to date women, he says he was “kind of mean to some women” and he wishes he could take it back.

Professional wrestler comes out as gay and says he tried ‘conversion’ therapy

The 34-year-old goes on to say he had bad experiences dating men in his late 20s.

He says he was called “fat” and “ugly” and that he was accused of being a “closet case”.

“Gay men can be the meanest, cruellest people you’ve ever met in your life”, he goes on to say.

Advertisement Remove ads

Advertisement Remove ads


Eventually, Parrow says he became depressed, had suicidal thoughts and even tried “conversion” therapy.

“It was an absolute joke,” he says of the widely condemned practice.

Professional wrestler comes out as gay and says he tried ‘conversion’ therapy

RELATED: Lesbian wrestler Charlie Morgan talks about coming out in the ring and the lack of gay WWE Superstars

Eventually, Parrow says he started seeing a therapist and got engaged to his fiance Morgan.

Professional wrestler comes out as gay and says he tried ‘conversion’ therapy

He says Morgan helped him come out to his wrestling colleagues and family.

“Anyone I ever told thought I was kidding,” he adds.

“Their perception of gay men was totally different. So when I tell them, they get shocked, but every time I tell someone it gets easier rather than harder, and I always try to tell people that.”

Comments (0)

MyPinkNews members are invited to comment on articles to discuss the content we publish, or debate issues more generally. Please familiarise yourself with our community guidelines to ensure that our community remains a safe and inclusive space for all.

Loading Comments