Mel Reid Comes Out As Gay: "Be Proud Of Who You Are"

The six-time LET winner has come out as gay in an interview with Athlete's Ally

Mel Reid Comes Out As Gay

The six-time LET winner has come out as gay in an interview with Athlete's Ally

Mel Reid Comes Out As Gay: "Be Proud Of Who You Are"

Six-time Ladies European Tour winner and three-time Solheim Cup player Mel Reid has come out as as gay.

In an interview with Athlete's Ally, Reid confirmed she was gay, urging people to "be proud of who you are."

The Englishwoman revealed that she knew she was gay from a young age and fell in love with a woman in her early days on Tour, which her very liberal family couldn't have been better about.

It took her six months to finally come to the decision to be open to the media and public after her best friend suggested the idea.

“The Tour is a very welcoming community and it’s rare that anyone has an issue with sexuality or openly express any issues,” she told Athlete's Ally.

“The only problem we run into is that being gay is still illegal or frowned upon in certain countries we play in."

Reid made her third Solheim Cup appearance last year

Reid has come out to show people who she really is, and sponsors too, as she doesn't want to fake it anymore.

She said male-dominated sponsors who are looking for certain types of players put her off of coming out.

"I protected my sexuality for a long time because I thought I had to in order to help my career and to get more sponsors," she said.

"But then I started to wonder why these companies would want to sponsor me and have me represent them if I can’t be my authentic self.

"There is only one of you in the world and you have one life, so be the best version of yourself and be proud of who you are."

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Reid is the highest-profile female golfer to come out as gay, whilst American Tad Fujikawa became the first openly gay male golfer in September.

Mel Reid secured her 2019 LPGA Tour card recently after coming through Q-school and is now based in America.

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Elliott Heath
News Editor

Elliott Heath is our News Editor and has been with Golf Monthly since early 2016 after graduating with a degree in Sports Journalism. He manages the Golf Monthly news team as well as our large Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages. He covered the 2022 Masters from Augusta National as well as five Open Championships on-site including the 150th at St Andrews. His first Open was in 2017 at Royal Birkdale, when he walked inside the ropes with Jordan Spieth during the Texan's memorable Claret Jug triumph. He has played 35 of our Top 100 golf courses, with his favourites being both Sunningdales, Woodhall Spa, Western Gailes, Old Head and Turnberry. He has been obsessed with the sport since the age of 8 and currently plays off of a six handicap. His golfing highlights are making albatross on the 9th hole on the Hotchkin Course at Woodhall Spa, shooting an under-par round, playing in the Aramco Team Series on the Ladies European Tour and making his one and only hole-in-one at the age of 15 - a long time ago now!

Elliott is currently playing:

Driver: Titleist TSR4

3 wood: Titleist TSi2

Hybrids: Titleist 816 H1

Irons: Mizuno MP5 5-PW

Wedges: Cleveland RTX ZipCore 50, 54, 58

Putter: Odyssey White Hot OG #5

Ball: Srixon Z Star XV