Stanford University Swimmer Says He Was Kicked Off the Team for Being Gay: 'This Is a Pattern'

Rachel DeSantis

A former swimmer at Stanford University has accused the school of homophobia, claiming he was booted from the swim team for being gay.

Abrahm DeVine aired his grievances with the team in a lengthy Instagram post on Monday that implied he was treated poorly and used during his four years swimming at Stanford.

Plain and simple: there are surface level reasons I was kicked off the Stanford swim team, but I can tell you with certainty that it comes down to the fact that I am gay, he wrote. This is a pattern. Homophobia is systematic, intelligently and masterfully designed to keep me silent and to push me out.

In his post, DeVine, who graduated from the university in June, lamented that he found it was his job to educate his coaches and fellow athletes at the school on his experiences, and that he seemed to be the sole voice speaking out.

Everyone says they support me, and yet, for the millionth time, I am the only one speaking up, he wrote. To my coaches who sport the pride flag on their desk, to the athletes who liked my pride photo on Instagram, I need you to wake up to whats happening around you. How can you say you support me and my equality? How can you not see how Stanford Swim has treated me and used me over the last 4 years? Am I invisible?

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As many of you know, Im an openly gay swimmer and I am the only one at my level. I want to use this post to call out some of the homophobia that Ive experienced being an athlete, and encourage everyone to be thoughtful and intentional about changing some of the homophobic aspects of the athletic culture that exists today. While I have many specific examples of micro aggressions and outright aggressions that Ive experienced, homophobia is ultimately much more than an accumulation of experiences. In fact, it is a denial of experience. While I feel like Ive tried to convey this to many people, many of whom deny any possibility that they contribute it, Ive started to ask myself: Why is it my job to educate coaches and athletes at the most resourceful university in the world? I cannot continue to try to engage people in this conversation when there is so much fragility to obscure my humanity and character, so much rhetoric to keep me silent. Everyone says they support me, and yet, for the millionth time, I am the only one speaking up. To my coaches who sport the pride flag on their desk, to the athletes who liked my pride photo on Instagram, I need you to wake up to whats happening around you. How can you say you support me and my equality? How can you not see how Stanford Swim has treated me and used me over the last 4 years? Am I invisible? Plain and simple: there are surface level reasons I was kicked off the Stanford swim team, but I can tell you with certainty that it comes down to the fact that I am gay. This is a pattern. Homophobia is systematic, intelligently and masterfully designed to keep me silent and to push me out. I am a talented, successful, educated, proud, gay man: I am a threat to the culture that holds sports teams together. I want something to change, because I cant take it anymore. My story is not unique. There are queer voices everywhere and all you have to do is listen. I am asking, begging for some sort of action. If you are reading this, this post is for you! Gay or straight, swimmer or not. None of us are exempt from homophobia. It is your civil duty to educate yourself. If you choose not to, it is at my expense.

A post shared by Abrahm DeVine (@abrahmdevine) on Sep 29, 2019 at 7:32pm PDT

Greg Meehan and Dan Schemmel, the coaches of the Stanford mens and womens swim team, confirmed that DeVine was not invited back to train with the team this year, but denied that it had anything to do with his sexuality in a statement.

It is truly unfortunate that Abe feels this way. That said, Abe wasnt invited back to train with us this fall, as a postgraduate, for reasons entirely unrelated to his sexuality, their joint statement read. We take pride in the inclusivity and supportiveness that exists on both our mens and womens teams, but we will continue to strive, as always, to improve those aspects of our culture.

Stanford did not immediately respond to PEOPLEs requests for comment.

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DeVine, 23, said he was sharing his story as a means of pushing for change and inspiring action.

My story is not unique. There are queer voices everywhere and all you have to do is listen, he wrote. I am asking, begging for some sort of action Gay or straight, swimmer or not. None of us are exempt from homophobia.

He later clarified on his Instagram Story that he did not want anyone at Stanford to be fired, but was simply speaking his truth.

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Coaches trying to intimidate me, friends turning their backs, cis straight white men trying to deny something they dont want to understand, he wrote, according to screenshots posted by SwimSwam. History is repeating itself in front of me and its sad to see.

DeVine, a Seattle native, publicly came out as gay in a September 2018 interview with Swimming World, in which he said his coaches and teammates were supportive when he first came out to them, despite his fears that they would not be.

I remember that being a pretty emotional time, and just feeling my whole team wrap around me and feeling that love in a place where I hadnt really felt it, that was definitely pretty special for me, he said. Just seeing them kind of prove me wrong was definitely special, something Ill never forget.

DeVine was a member of the United States 2017 and 2019 FINA World Championship Teams, and represented Team USA at the championships in South Korea this summer.