"Those who know me best know that I don't share much if anything publicly on social media, but lately, something has sparked in me (ok yes credited to #HeatedRivalry). I realized it is finally time to share a journey I have kept close to the vest for a long time," wrote Kortuem, nodding to the series, which has made a viral splash since it debuted."
"For a long time the rink did not feel like a place where I could be all of me. I felt I had to hide parts of myself for far too long, he wrote on Facebook. I lived in a constant state of dichotomy. I loved the game, but I lived with a persistent fear. I wondered how I could be gay and still play such a tough and masculine sport."
"Kortuem ultimately walked away from his high school team, but returned to playing as an adult and, with the help of 2017's gay hockey tournament known as Sin City Classic, reached a breaking point. This past weekend at Sun Peaks was so much more than just a few hockey games. Standing on that ice, I realized I have finally found my peace."
Jesse Kortuem publicly came out as gay and credited the HBO Max series Heated Rivalry for giving him the courage to share his identity. Kortuem described himself as private and said he long felt he had to hide on the ice before experiencing a recent shift that prompted social media posts. He tagged the series starring Hudson Williams and Connor Storrie and directed followers to a full statement. Kortuem said he left his high school team, later returned as an adult, reached a turning point at the Sin City Classic, and found peace during a weekend at Sun Peaks. He offered encouragement to athletes still closeted. GQ called Heated Rivalry 2025's biggest surprise hit, and Luminate reported over 254 million minutes viewed in a single week.
Read at www.mercurynews.com
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