Read this uplifting article about Jallen Messersmith, who has gone from a bullied teen to being one of the bros on his college basketball team. This is the future of our movement...

I really enjoyed this Outsports article entitled "Out College Basketball Player Happy Being Just One Of The Guys."

--He was born 20 years ago in Blue Springs, Missouri, to Tim and Chantelle Messersmith during March Madness and the 1993 run by Michigan's Fab 5. He was named Jallen (pronounced Jalen), a mash-up of his middle name, Allen, with the first name of then-Michigan star Jalen Rose.

--He was raised a Mormon.
--He was bullied so badly in pre-adolesence that he was home-schooled.

--He plays college basketball for Benedictine College in Atchison, Kansas, a small liberal arts Catholic school and was fourth in the nation in his division in blocked shots this past season.
--He is openly gay.

A 6-8, 215-pound openly gay Mormon basketball player at a Catholic school in Middle America Kansas seems an anomaly. Messersmith, though, fits in perfectly with his teammate and was embraced after he came out last fall, first to his coaches and then over time to his teammates. To them, he's just Jallen.

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