Isaac Humphries publicly announced that he is gay last year, hoping it will pave the way for more professional athletes to do the same.
The Melbourne United basketball player has been on a long personal journey to come to terms with his sexuality, sometimes going to extreme lengths to change it.
The 26-year-old narrates the latest episode of the Mentally like everyone else podcast that he even tried hypnotherapy.
“I definitely suffered from self-loathing, shame and hatred, like a lot of closeted homosexuals,” he said.
“You just go into a big spiral. Of course, in the grand scheme of things, it’s not a big deal at this point in time, but the aftermath that it had on my life was the reason I got into such a dark space.”
In his desperation, Isaac asked a hypnotherapist to change his thoughts.
“I went to a hypnotherapist, opened up and said, ‘Can you try to hypnotize me so that I don’t think that way about men anymore? And maybe I can change my thought process so that I think that way about women so that I don’t have to deal with them anymore?’” he said.
Isaac continued: ‘I thought, ‘I want a wife, kids, a house and a family.’
Isaac Humphries (pictured) publicly announced he was gay last year, hoping it would pave the way for more professional athletes to do the same
“So then we started hypnotizing me to just think about that and nothing else and those bad thoughts. I just thought, ‘Wow, this is crazy,’ but I’m doing it because I couldn’t handle the idea of homosexuality at all. It clearly didn’t work.”
Humphries became the first openly gay player in NBL history – and only the second player to do so in a top league in the world – when he made his announcement to his teammates.
He is the second active athlete in one of Australia’s top sporting leagues to come out as gay, after A-League Men player Josh Cavallo.
“I absolutely believe it’s time to make a change and set an example for the next generation that they can be anything they want to be while still being true to themselves,” Humphries said last year.
“I want to show that you can be a professional athlete, you can be anything you want, and you can still be gay.”
The Melbourne United basketball player has been on a long personal journey to accept his sexuality, sometimes going to extreme lengths to change it
The United first-teamer told team-mates he had been through “extremely dark times” and hid his sexuality from loved ones and even himself, leading him to consider ending it all at one point.
“It’s a truth about myself that I’ve wanted to deny for a long time, but now I feel comfortable telling you all about it. That truth is that I’m gay,” Humphries said.
‘I’ve been through some really dark times on this journey, but I’ve also grown so much and now I’m happy with who I am.
‘I learned a lot about myself during the last off-season and thought about it a lot.
The 26-year-old tells the latest episode of the Mental As Anyone podcast that he even tried hypnotherapy. “I definitely had the self-homophobia and the shame and the hate that a lot of closeted gay people experience,” he said.
“I knew that if I joined a team and started a season, I would have to show who I am and not hide anymore.”
Last July he signed with Melbourne United.
“We as athletes, as professional athletes, have a responsibility to be an example to others,” he told his teammates in the video release.
‘And the truth is that there are so many people in other worlds who struggle every day and don’t know how to get up, don’t know how to exist.
‘I know how that feels and I want to represent those people.
‘That’s my goal: to make sure people know that you can be whoever you want to be, no matter who you are or what you do.
“I just want to be myself. I’ve discovered that this is my purpose in life and I’m just going to do my best.”
“You just go into a big spiral. Sure, in the grand scheme of things, it’s not a big deal at this point in time, but the residual effects it had on my life was the reason I got into such a dark space,” he added. Pictured with The Veronicas at the GQ Awards
Humphries is the second male basketball player to come out as gay while playing in one of the world’s top basketball leagues.
NBA veteran Jason Collins was the first, in 2013.
Humphries made the announcement ahead of a meeting with his former club Adelaide 36ers at John Cain Arena on Thursday night.
United CEO Nick Truelson and head coach Dean Vickerman said the organization is proud of Humphries.
“Today is a great step in Isaac’s journey and we as a club support him wholeheartedly,” said Truelson.
‘Not only as a member of our club, but also as a person.
“This is an important event for him personally, but also for men’s sport on a global scale.”
A number of sports stars, fans, teams and even the NBA itself praised Humphries for taking this major step.
“I went to a hypnotherapist and opened up to him and said, ‘Can you try to hypnotize me to stop this thinking about men and maybe reprogram my thought process to think that way about women so I don’t have to deal with it anymore?’” the basketball player said.
“We are proud and grateful that Isaac is sharing his story,” read a message on the NBA’s official Twitter account.
“We know the real impact his courage and honesty will have on many others. Isaac has our unwavering respect and support.”
The Brisbane Lions AFL team responded with: “It inspires and helps people by sharing your story mate!”, while the Adelaide United A-League team added: “Proud of you @IsaacHumphries7”.
NBL franchises Adelaide 36ers and Tasmania JackJumpers were among the Australian teams to congratulate Humphries on the major step forward for the sport.
NBA coach Dave Love was also a fan of the news, as was Perth Wildcats owner Craig Hutchison, who wrote: “Incredibly brave, strong and inspiring. Thank you @IsaacHumphries7 for sharing your journey. The entire @NBL world is behind you.”