Phoenix Suns president and CEO Rick Welts revealed to the public that he is gay in a story posted on the New York Times’ website yesterday, saying he wants to break down one of the last significant social barriers in sports.
Welts talked to NBA commissioner David Stern, WNBA president Val Ackerman, Hall of Famer Bill Russell and Suns guard Steve Nash before discussing his sexual orientation with a reporter from the Times, the newspaper said. All of them offered Welts their support.
“This is one of the last industries where the subject is off limits,” the longtime executive told the paper. “Nobody’s comfortable in engaging in a conversation.”
The Suns did not offer a statement yesterday when contacted by the Associated Press. Messages left with Welts’ public relations team were not returned.
Welts is one of the most prominent figures active in sports to openly declare that he is gay, although there has yet to be an active player in the NBA, Major League Baseball or the NFL to make such a statement. Some athletes have done so after their playing careers.
The 58-year-old Welts, who began his career as a ball boy for the Seattle SuperSonics, spent several years with Stern in the league office. He was the architect of the All-Star Weekend and helped raise the NBA’s profile before leaving for the Suns’ front office.
Welts told Stern about his sexual orientation during a meeting in New York last month.