Dan Gargan, playing now in his second season for the Chicago Fire professional soccer team, said he would be surprised if a teammate came out as gay—because "I think I know my teammates," he said.
But it wouldn't be a shocker and Gargan would offer nothing but support.
"To take a step forward and come out as a gay athlete [while active, not when retired], it would take a lot of strength, and I certainly would admire that person," Gargan said in an exclusive interview July 6 at the Boystown nightspot Sidetrack.
Gargan and teammate Jay Nolly joined Fire front-office staff for Equality Illinois' First Friday social networking cocktail party, marking one of several partnered events this summer between Equality Illinois, the state's oldest and largest LGBT advocacy organization, and the Fire of Major League Soccer (MLS).
"If [an active player] came out, I think he'd receive a wide spectrum of emotions, just as it would with any other hot-button subject or topic. However, we view our team, and I can only speak for the Chicago Fire, as a family and if a player came out, I think that player would be embraced; I wouldn't expect it to be any different."
Gargan, a defender who was born in Costa Rica, said it certainly will take a lot of "strength and inner fortitude," to come out while active. "I think it will take a strong person to do it, but when it happens, I think our world probably is a little better equipped to handle it [than years ago.]"
Gargan has played against openly gay professional soccer player David Testo for several years, while Testo has worn multiple uniforms. It was never an issue, Gargan said.
"I think the Fire is happy to be partners with Equality Illinois and show the rest of the community that everyone is embraced and show that we, the Chicago Fire, believe in equality," Gargan said.
Nolly added, "I think it's great that the Fire has teamed up with Equality Illinois. I'm all about equality; I think everyone should have their own rights; I felt this was a good way for me to support the cause and am happy to be here."
Nolly said he has had a gay teammate, and added, "It doesn't bother me; I don't think it's a big deal, and if people have an open mind, it shouldn't be."
The partnership between Equality Illinois and the Chicago Fire was launched during the Chicago Pride Parade in June, when representatives of the Fire marched along with the Equality Illinois float with its "I Do" marriage-equality theme.
Members of the Fire organization also will be on the receiving end of pies when Equality Illinois holds its annual Celebrity Pie Toss July 28 at Sidetrack. Funds raised, through pie donations, will aid Equality Illinois programs.
The team will hold Chicago Fire Pride Night at its game Aug. 4 at Toyota Park in Bridgeview. A portion of ticket sale proceeds that night will go to benefit the work of the Equality Illinois Education Project.
"The relationship started with a very natural, organic conversation that we had with the Chicago Fire because we were participating in soccer-watching parties; that was Equality Illinois board members, community members and general organizational members," said Bernard Cherkasov, CEO of Equality Illinois. "We just said, there are so many of us watching the Fire games, so there has to be some way to come together and stand in solidarity together.
"At the same time, the Chicago Fire was trying to identify ways that it could show to the LGBT fan base just how much [the team] loved and appreciated it back. We started conversation a few months ago that we wanted a more organized presence with the Chicago Fire, and they said that [the team] wanted a more organized presence within the LGBT community."
Cherkasov said the alliance with the Fire "tells us so much about society because there was a time, in our lifetime, where public officials, religious clergy members, business leaders, sports heroes, would not touch LGBT equality issues with a 10-foot pole. Their agents would recommend against it; their employers and society as a whole would, too. But now, we see political officials coming out in support of LGBT issues, [as well as] religious leaders, business leaders and sports teams."
Cherkasov was hesitant to tag his favorite Fire player, instead saying he supports all. But, when pressured, he said Orr Baruch, "with whom I share more in common with [than other players.] He comes from the land of my ancestors, [Israel], so I feel a particular connection to him."
