Jason’s Story
I am from Melbourne, Australia. My father is one of the most macho guys I have ever seen. He was always into big engines, race cars, womanizing, and picking drunken fights. I was brought up in that environment, so I imbibed these values as a youngster. I thought it was how men were supposed to act. Owing to this macho environment, I was also drawn to the sports that were deemed masculine, leading me first into professional skateboarding and then later into mixed martial arts and truck racing.
For a long time, I thought I was 100% straight, even though I had multiple sexual experiences with men. At age 15, for example, a friend of mine tried to blow me, but after a few seconds I pushed him away, worried what would happen if others found out. At 23, I went to a gay bar with a few straight friends and later that night let a male cross dresser give me head. These kinds of incidents happened three or four more times, but I never questioned my orientation or tried to figure it out. When you are into skateboarding, which is full of boys, it is better to not talk about your attraction to or relationships with men because if someone were to find out he would likely tell others, and that would be the end of your career.
Now, I am old enough to realize money, fame and career is nothing in comparison to being happy. So, after coming out as bisexual to my current wife, a few of her friends, and my mother, I decided to come out to the world on the Howard Stern show. My wife encouraged it and my mother was supportive, but some people didn’t like it. I lost some of my radio show listeners, but the LGBT community embraced me. I feel happier than ever now, and that is what is most important.
For more about Jason, listen to his radio show, or follow him on Twitter and Instagram.
Artist Notes
“Jason Ellis is holding an elephant splashing water in this illustration because he talks about how he was brought up in a macho environment, which eventually got him into sports deemed masculine. This trajectory is represented by the elephant because the animal is tied to masculinity in many cultures. The splashed water features a skateboard, a glove used in MMA and a truck used in truck racing. The circle around him that is filled with entanglements reflects the fact that coming out is discouraged in these male-dominated sports. The breaking of this circle releases butterflies to the right, which symbolizes Jason coming out after realizing that being happy is more important to him than money, fame, or career.”
Published Jul 1, 2020
Updated Oct 26, 2022
Published in Issue VII: Sports