Chase Kinser

Photos courtesy of Varsity Gay League

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Name: Chase Kinser.

Age: 32.

Hometown: Los Gatos, California.

Current Residence: West Hollywood, California

Current Sport(s) Played: Kickball, flag football.

Relationship Status: In a relationship with my boyfriend of three years. Favorite Athlete: Joe Thornton.

Favorite Team: 49ers.

Interests/Hobbies: Cooking, talking chisme [gossip] with my friends, watching the latest hit TV show, playing with my dog, playing any type of game, sports, listening to podcasts, wine-tasting and planning my next adventure.

Best Physical Feature: Everyone seems to notice my butt.

Why You Love Sports: I love how sports challenge us physically, mentally and strategically. They have a unique ability to build bonds between strangers who just joined the same team or happen root for the same one. I see sports as a healthy, productive way for self-improvement, to build relationships in our community and to have fun.

How You First Got Involved in Sports: I’ve played ever since I was a kid since it was mandatory in my dad’s family; my grandpa and uncle were both football coaches so there was lots of pressure to play.

Other Sports Played Growing up: football, track, soccer and wrestling. In adulthood: flag football, kickball, bowling and soccer. I really want to take up golf so I have something to play +50.

What’s Your Day Job: I work in supply chain at a medical device company. I’m also producing a fictional podcast.

Greatest Personal Achievement: I finally made Los Angeles my home after struggling for 10 years. I have a great group of friends, I love my job(s), my apartment, my boyfriend and my dog, Goose.

Greatest Athletic Achievements: I had the fastest 40-yard dash time junior and senior years of high school.

What’s your personal story? I grew up in a locker room and really struggled in middle and high school when I realized I was gay. I was forced to play sports because of the long tradition of males playing football in my family. I also happened to be strong and fast, so there was additional pressure on me to succeed. Even in a liberal, affluent area like Silicon Valley my teammates were very hostile to the mere threat of a gay person on the team. The worse insults were to call someone gay, and any time a teammate did something remotely effeminate, the rest of the team would immediately chastise him. I was surrounded by toxic masculinity.

I spent most of my energy hiding any semblance of gayness, and it damaged my athletic achievements since I didn’t want to stand out. I didn’t push myself or achieve my potential because I feared being found out. When I moved to L.A. I joined L.A. Flag Football and Varsity Gay League where I could just play without hiding. I felt significantly more confident and was able to succeed at higher levels and eventually captain elite teams in national tournaments (while winning a couple). I felt I was finally able to take back what I feel was stolen from me in high school. In a weird, way, playing in gay adult recreational sports leagues gave me peace. Additionally, I met most of my best friends and my boyfriend through the leagues, so I am very grateful I joined.

If given the chance, what would you tell/teach your younger self? And/or is there anything you hope to teach the younger generation that may

be looking up to you? I don’t want to tell myself I should be have been out because I don’t think my team or I were emotionally ready to handle a gay teammate in the mid-2000s. I would tell myself that I am not less a person because of who I am. Those who fear gay people are doing so out of insecurity or to fit it. There are other people out there going through very similar struggles, and eventually you’ll meet them. You will have the resources and opportunity to find friends, love and community. Focus on school and being the best athlete you can be and it’ll all come together in the end. Be patient.

I would tell the younger generation to do the same except if it is safe for you, be out.

What are your future goals? I hope to be able to afford property in the L.A. area and have kids. That simple middle-class goal is rather expensive these days but I’m not giving up. I really want to coach my kid’s soccer team.

Please feel free to include any additional pertinent information you think would be of interest to Compete readers. There should be significant improvement to make LGBTQ+ people feel accepted in all sports environments. I look forward to the generational change needed in sports where all LGBTQ+ athletes feel safe in a locker room because we are safe; where cis-straight men welcome and don’t fear an intimate friendship with us like they have with their other teammates.

Many of the best gay athletes I’ve met avoided team sports due to its toxic nature. Like me, these individuals never hated the sport but rather the environment manifested inside the locker room. The only solutions I have are to teach kids that being LGBTQ+ is normal and that there is nothing to fear. If one of us gets the wrong signal and hits on you, then just politely say no.