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| Retired Washington Redskins player Roy Simmons broke new ground recently by speaking openly about being gay and HIV-positive. (Photo courtesy of the Washington Redskins) |
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HOME > SOVO SCENE > FEATURE
By: GREG SMILEY
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GEORGIA NATIVE and former Georgia Tech football player Roy Simmons played for
the New York Giants from 1979-’83, and with the Washington Redskins from ’83
to ’85, including during the team’s Super Bowl XVIII victory in 1984.
Nicknamed “Sugar Bear” by his former teammates for his warmth
and generosity, Simmons hid his sexual orientation until the early 1990s, not
surprising in the macho world of professional sports.
Simmons, a 47-year-old retired athlete, came out as gay in 1992 on the “Phil
Donahue Show,” a time preceded by fear and confusion. Before then, he
abused alcohol and illicit drugs and was living on the “down low,” a
trendy term in some gay social circles for black gay or bisexual men who are
either in the closet or do not identify as gay.
Last month, Simmons came out again in a profile by the New York Times, this
time as a person living with HIV.
He now lives on Martha’s Vineyard in Massachusetts and has given over
much of his care to his best friend, Jimmy Hester, who also is HIV-positive,
and his naturopathic doctor, Roni DeLuz.
He’s working on a book about his life with sports writer Benoit Lewis.
And in January, Simmons plans to begin speaking at colleges and working to
educate people nationwide about HIV/AIDS.
In a recent interview with Southern Voice, Simmons spoke about professional
sports and his personal struggles.
?
Well, I grew up in Savannah, Ga. I played a number of positions — offensive
tackle, defensive tackle, offensive guard, nose guard. I was recruited by a
number of schools, but I wanted to stay in state close to home, so I went to
Georgia Tech. I did well in school, both academically and athletically, and
I thought I’d be drafted in the NFL’s first round. All the scouts
thought that. Everyone thought that. But I didn’t go until the eighth
[round] to the Giants.
Things had always gone my way up until that point. Words don’t
describe it. I was embarrassed, humiliated, angry. There are some moments in
your life that are history-making events. Things you don’t forget.
When I met my daughter’s mother in the third grade, that’s
one. The birth of my daughter. I’d say sobriety. Doing drugs. Attending
the Super Bowl with the Redskins. Being baptized here on Martha’s Vineyard
in the ocean. Freeing myself on the “Donahue Show” in 1992. That
helped a lot of people. Meeting Dr. Roni through my best friend, Jimmy.
I was diagnosed in 1997. I was scheduled to go to Israel by myself
on a spiritual retreat for a couple of weeks, but I went to the doctor before
I went. I had been sick with all this stuff I don’t get — earache,
sore throat. He asked me when was the last time I was tested, and I said
three or four years ago.
I was nervous. No one is totally sure. Especially when it comes to
intercourse. Some people have blackouts that they can’t remember [what
they did]. Being told that I was positive, there’s a shade of darkness
that comes over you — fear, knowing that you’re going to die.
At that point, I had been clean for five years. I was a substance abuse counselor
in East Hampton, N.Y. It was just shocking. Having to make that call to your
mother — that was awful.
Well, my experience with Jimmy and Dr. Roni. Jimmy’s an old
friend of mine from my days as a New York Giant. He was the busboy at the restaurant
that many of the Giants would hang out in. I’ve known him that long.
He brought me to Martha’s Vineyard to take charge of my life and my health.
He said, “I made a promise to help you, and now you must make a promise
to help others. This is my way.” It is a beautiful experience of setting
yourself free again [after] years of torture and anguish.
The message is: “Respect yourself. Get tested. And ...
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