Conner Mertens played football at Willamette University from 2013-2017 and became the first active college football player to come out as LGBTQ. He talks about growing up in Kennewick, Washington, being the youngest of 4 boys, playing soccer and football, and what he likes about being a kicker in football. Conner describes what it was like to know at a young age that he is bisexual and growing up in an area that was not very accepting. He details his Southridge High School football career where he or his brothers own most of the kicking records, being a part of Young Life, and his recruiting process that led him to pick Division III Willamette University in Oregon. Conner then talks about his college career, his decision to come out to his family, friends, and football team, and then writing a letter to his hometown which became public. He details the positive reaction the football team and his fraternity had, but getting kicked out of Young Life. Conner now speaks publicly about LGBTQ themes, lives in New York City, and is much more confident about who he is.
