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Orlando Cruz featured in HBO Real Sports segment on reluctance of gay athletes to 'come out' while competing

Orlando Cruz discusses his decision to come out as a gay man on HBO's Real Sports.

When ranked boxer and former Olympian, Orlando Cruz came out as a "proud gay man," it was not a stretch to assume that a sports magazine formatted TV show like ESPN's E:60 or HBO's Real Sports would feature him in a segment. HBO has done just that and the above clip shows a brief bit of their upcoming segment on, as they put it, "the reluctance of gay athletes to come out while in uniform."

In the clip, Cruz explains that he used to cry before and after going to the gym, asking God to help him.

He also explains that his decision to come out now. Saying "I want respect. Here in my sport. And outside, on the street." Concluding by saying that he is free and "very, very happy."

Cruz won his first fight since coming out this past weekend, winning a wide decision over Jorge Pazos.

The episode premiers tomorrow night (Tuesday, October 23) at 10 p.m. ET/PT on HBO. It will also be available on HBO On Demand from Oct. 29-November 19 and on the HBO Go service.

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