His official coming-out was two years in the making after Dana O'Neil from ESPN approached him to write his story.
She wanted the scoop and Will Sheridan was ready, but the timing just wasn't right.
"What I neglected to consider was the other people who my coming-out would affect," Sheridan said. "So I made sure my family wouldn't be surprised and other people were very clear of my intentions—and they are to be me, who I am. I can help people who need someone to look to for motivation and inspiration to just be themselves."
Sheridan, now 26 and single, came out this spring, jumping into the sports spotlight as the second former Division I male college basketball player to reveal he is gay. Former NBA player John Amaechi is the other.
Sheridan now lives in Bed-Stuy Brooklyn (N.Y.), and works in the fashion industry, managing at the No. 1 retail store in the world, he said. In addition to performing, song writing for others and himself, Sheridan also organizes and promotes his own events, such as, Eclectic Collective at Fatbaby on the first Tuesday of every month, and WestSide Wednesdays at Rockbar, both in New York City, and he performs at both.
However, it's Sheridan's performance on the hardwood that thrust him into mainstream media headlines, particularly of late.
"This past month has been epic," Sheridan said. "I've received so much love. The response has been positive for me, but people who know me were already on board with my life. My parents were a bit anxious about the coming-out story, but now I think they're in a better place with it. All in all, I'm happy with the story, the response and what it's doing for the community."
The 6-foot-8, 240-pound Sheridan was named Delaware's Prep Player of the Year as both a junior and a senior. He then played at Villanova University, finishing his college career in 2006.
"Villanova was an amazing experience for me because it was small enough to feel safe and nurturing, but large enough to not feel on top of one another," Sheridan said. "With that said, all the [homophobic] slander was usually at games from crowds in the heat of things or used as a distraction at the foul line or something. On campus, sometimes people would ask me [about my sexual orientation while] drunk at a party or something like that, but rarely."
Sheridan told his teammates gradually over time. "I earned their respect with my game, so [my sexual orientation] wasn't really an issue. They weren't really interested in my sex life and the feeling was mutual. When I was a senior, some of the younger guys didn't understand me, but they were like I was focused on developing and becoming a part of a great basketball tradition."
Sheridan never flat out told a coach at Villanova until after he graduated. "Over time, our conversations about my social life changed … they never asked questions that they didn't want [to hear] the answer to, and vice versa. I never gave complete answers that were too revealing," he said.
He said he had a few advocates on campus and they were "amazing throughout my campus life, really supportive."
Since coming out, Sheridan has had endless online love too, so to speak. That's been one of the biggest surprises, he said.
"I have people coming out to me everyday on Facebook, [many] asking me for advice," he said. "More shocking. I'm surprised [by] people [who] flirt with me on Facebook and Twitter. Seriously, they do, and I wasn't prepared for that.
Sheridan's current world, the hip hop industry, isn't as accepting, though.
"Hip-hop is homophobic," he said. "So, when I do gigs, I usually perform like I have a chip on my shoulder—like I need to be way better than the straight acts to be accepted," he said. "For the most part, I've been successful or just flat out better prepared for the gig. I think doing the ESPN story solidified my, 'I don't give a [crap] approach to my sexuality.'
"I'm here, I'm different and you have to deal with it!
"That's essentially what the foundation of hip-hop music is—the music of minority people telling their story fused with having a good time. And I'm all about that. So being openly gay may or may not have its benefits, but I plan to overshadow all that with charisma, uniqueness, never talent, and people will eventually give up trying not to like me."
Sheridan acknowledges that, by coming out, he immediately returns to the spotlight, perhaps with a brighter glare than when his work clothes included shorts, tank tops and high-top gym shoes.
"I'm now so much to so many people, [many who] I don't even know [me]," he said. "I want to hear those people's concerns and fight for them. I would love to be an ambassador to the world for the [LGBT] community, but I have to get out there and actually do more first. I'm a bit different than any other popular artist right now. I'm not Adam Lambert, Ricky Martin [or] Lady Gaga, respectfully. We have different life experiences and perspectives, so I really think I will add to the spectrum of messages being put out to the masses.
"I came out [to myself] ages before ESPN, so everything in my mind is and was great. I want Absolut Vodka to throw a huge party for me and all the people who are absolutely who they want to be."
Sheridan's next major project is the full LP on Royal Advisor Records that is not yet titled. Thewillsheridan.com will launch and a tour will follow, too. Plus, he plans to continue public speaking.
When asked if the mainstream sports world, particularly the big-four male sports, are ready for an openly gay athlete, Sheridan said the athlete, "better be a beast, though."
Meaning, he has to be better than reigning NBA MVP Derrick Rose of the Chicago Bulls. "Not only does he have to amazing, I hope he's smart, [too,]" Sheridan said. "John [Amaechi] was smart enough to articulate his experience and, for that, I'm so grateful."
Sheridan said it was not difficult being a Division I player at a good/competitive program, yet quiet about his sexuality.
"I was institutionalized to be a straight male, so it wasn't hard to 'live a straight life,' but there was a tough struggle internally between what was right for me and what everyone else wanted," he said. "Sports served as a passion that in turn served as a distraction from my personal struggle of loving me. It also threw people off and made them think—no way he's not gay!"
Sheridan said he has had two major relationships. So who's his Mr. Right?
"He's confident, easy on the eyes, different, has a perspective on the world, is not obsessed with me playing basketball; yet not dismissive," Sheridan said. "He has personal power, passions and is in pursuit of all things he deserves and wants. Also, he [should be] tall. For some reason that works better for me. Power is probably the most appealing attribute to me. ... Feel free to ask me what I mean by that in person."
Sheridan has long endured, and heard, homophobic comments—and is not surprised.
"Until the majority agrees that nigger and faggot are equally offensive the world won't change the way they talk or think," Sheridan said. "People who make individual attacks on the gay community fit into a few categories—it's either a reflection of their own insecurities, what people may have projected on them and they are afraid it's true or upset, that they want attention in media or they're so old and irrelevant that they just can't embrace change.
"At the end of the day, I want to be an ambassador for being who you are. My personal journey is my own—by representing me—I am so many things: Black, gay, tall, a former athlete, a musician [and] an artist. One thing I'm not is, [being] afraid anymore. I'm not afraid to be brave for that little boy or little girl with old-school parents. I'm not afraid to be an example for closeted gays and I'm not afraid to rock out for closeted artists who think they can't make it being who they are."
For more about Will Sheridan, his videos of "Welcome to the Jungle" and "302" are available on YouTube. Plus, Ngoma—his first EP featuring WTJ—is on iTunes and is available through Amazon and Beatport.
