Gay ex-baseball star marries his partner in a lavish New Orleans wedding – complete with jazz band
Sign up for more LGBTQ+ news and updates at TrueQueer.
TJ House, a former professional baseball pitcher who publicly came out as gay in December 2022, recently celebrated his wedding to partner Ryan Neitzel in a luxurious outdoor ceremony in New Orleans. The couple shared their special day with family and friends, marching through the streets accompanied by a jazz band.
The wedding, which took place on Friday, March 29th, was a beautiful affair with the couple donning matching black and white suits and bowties. The venue was gorgeously rustic, adorned with stunning floral arrangements. TJ House took to Instagram on Tuesday, April 2nd, to share images of the ceremony, expressing his love for Neitzel in a heartfelt caption inspired by the movie “It Takes Two.”
Neitzel also posted an image of the wedding ceremony on Instagram, quoting Daniel Broxmeyer about the limitless possibilities of marriage and the comfort of knowing you are not alone. The couple’s love story has been met with overwhelming support and positivity from their followers and the LGBTQ+ community.
TJ House made history as only the third former MLB player to come out as gay, following in the footsteps of Glenn Burke and Billy Bean. He made the announcement on Facebook alongside news of his engagement to Neitzel. Just six days after going public with his sexuality, House and Neitzel attended an event at The White House to mark the signing of the Respect for Marriage Act.
The lack of LGBTQ+ representation in professional baseball is glaring, with only a handful of players having come out over the sport’s lengthy history. According to OutSports, there have been just three queer players in MLB and 11 in the minor leagues who have publicly identified as LGBTQ+. TJ House’s courage in sharing his story and celebrating his love with Neitzel serves as a beacon of hope for LGBTQ+ athletes everywhere.
In addition to House, Burke, and Bean, there have been other openly LGBTQ+ athletes in baseball, including Anderson Comas, David Denson, Solomon Bates, Ty Dunnington, Sean Conroy, Jason Burch, Kieran Lovegrove, Bryan Ruby, Tyler Townsend, and John Dillinger. Notably, Ila Borders is the only woman among these athletes, with her girlfriend Sherri Murrell making history as the first openly gay coach in women’s Division I basketball.
The wedding of TJ House and Ryan Neitzel represents a significant milestone for LGBTQ+ representation in professional sports. Their love story is a testament to the power of visibility and acceptance in breaking down barriers for queer athletes. As they embark on this new chapter together, their union serves as a reminder that love knows no bounds and that everyone deserves the right to celebrate their love openly and unapologetically.
Follow us on: Facebook for more LGBTQ+ news and updates at TrueQueer.
professional baseball
