Chris Kanyon, really Christopher Klucsaritis, came out as one of professional wrestling’s first openly gay competitors.
Even after Christopher Klucsaritis’s recently reported suicide, Googlesphere is more interested in his sexual orientation. Forget the 6-foot-5, 250-pound Christopher Klucsaritis was found dead in his Queen apartment with “scores of pills” near his body, as reported by the New York Daily News. Forget the friendly, outgoing man was only 40 years old and had enjoyed a successful career in both World Championship Wrestling and the WWE which included a run within the WCW championship tag team “Men at Work.”.
Evidently those who are using Google at present think that “Chris Kanyon comes out” is much more important.
Bravery is at least indicated by “Chris Kanyon comes out”
Around the time that Chris Kanyon comes out, Out Sports grabs an interview. Klucsaritis made the following clear:
“People cannot say I’m just doing to make a name for myself; I’ve already made a name for myself. I’ve already accomplished almost every one of my goals in wrestling… Coming out isn’t about me. This is, hopefully, about helping others, especially kids, who are struggling with their sexuality. I want to be a role-model to them, someone they can look up to.”
So Chris Klucsaritis didn’t do it for his career or for public purposes. He did it out of a concern to others, regardless of exactly what the macho wrestling community might say. That takes many guts.
Gay sports community makes it a big deal
It is big news that Chris Kanyon comes out. Looking back on his author, former wrestler, and colleague Mick Foley (aka “Mankind”) said on his MySpace blog that he wishes “there was more tolerance within the world, so that people wouldn’t have to struggle so hard and go through so much emotional pain just to live the life they want to.”. He wishes that Chris Kanyon can find peace, which he was obviously lacking from his apparent suicide, and that others who may be struggling with depression or other related illnesses might look to professionals, friends, and family for care and support.
Possibly depression became a danger just like it did for other professional athletes who were no longer able to perform as they once did. Foley acknowledged other people that crashed after the cheers died in the wrestling brotherhood.
“I really wish there was some kind of emotional crash pad for wrestlers to land on when the bright lights dim, or when injuries take their toll, or when one is finally forced to face the fact that the next big break just might not come around.”
Chris Kanyon already came out, in 2006.
Googlers have to be concerned more about how Christopher Klucsaritis lived.
