Pro-wrestler receives “overwhelming” support after coming out as bisexual

Joe Fitzpatrick, a professional wrestler known as Bulk Bronson, has come out as bisexual in a series of posts on X. He said that his friends, family, and fiancee have all been so supportive that “I could run through a brick wall right now from how grateful I feel.”

The wrestler — who fights on the All Elite Wrestling and Ring of Honor Wrestling promotions — came out in a June 1 reply to his fiancee Gabby Forza. Forza encouraged her followers to post an image of themselves and the LGBTQ+ flag that best represents their identity. She wrote, “Happy pride month I’m Bi/Pansexual & queer [heart emojis].” Bronson responded by posting an image of himself alongside the bisexual flag.

Related: Pro-wrestler CM Punk took a powerful stand in support of LGBTQ+ rights

“I support trans kids, trans grown-ups, gays, and lesbians is because I know when I was growing up, I didn’t fit in anywhere.”

He then shared his coming out experience in a series of posts on June 3.

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“The last 24 hours have just been so overwhelming ever since openly admitting that I am bisexual,” he wrote. “I’ve been left speechless by the endless phone calls, texts, [direct messages], replies from faithful fans, my close friends, our scumbag, and so many others I’ve had new interactions with. Between the social media response — and just now getting off a 55-minute phone call with my parents that was overflowing with so much love & uplifting support — I could run through a brick wall right now from how grateful I feel.”

https://t.co/i7WPptfF7a pic.twitter.com/aBeLqbLTCA

— Bulk Bronson (@bearbronsonBC) June 3, 2024

“While these past 24 hours flew by so fast, I feel like I learned so much,” he continued. “All this time, I thought, ‘Why even say anything, who cares?’ But I learned just how important representation is. If me coming out and living my truth helps at least one other person feel more comfortable in their own skin, it makes it all worth it for me.”

“My parents … wouldn’t stop crying and kept calling me back to tell me how much they love me,” he wrote. “My brother … immediately cracked jokes before telling me how proud he is and how much he loves me.”

Mentioning his fiancee, he wrote, “The love of my life has always lifted me up and been proud of me from the second I admitted my sexuality to her when we started dating, but always instilled in me that if I spoke out about it openly, I’d have to do it for ME and nobody else, it has to be when I’m comfortable. With her never-ending love & acceptance, I honestly didn’t care enough to share with the world. She IS my world, so that’s all that matters, right?”

“Well, lately I’ve felt different. Not only have I been heavily inspired by Gabby and how proud she is to be bi/pansexual & queer, I’ve been inspired by so many others as well. Many of my friends & coworkers that are out and proud, and even some that are still in the closet waiting to one day feel ready,” he wrote.

“I was completely unsure of what the response would be and honestly didn’t really care,” he continued. “If nobody cared or noticed like I expected, that would be TOTALLY fine. If other wrestlers thought I had ulterior motives or thought of me coming out as a strategic move for my career, then this is for them too, and I hope it pisses you off. All I knew at the moment was that I just felt like doing something for me. So it finally felt right.”

“The response I got has been indescribable. It’s all taken me a bit to fully process. All I can think to say right now is, from the bottom of my heart — THANK YOU [heart emoji].”

Happy Pride