“It had been a difficult decision as the I had been traditions good wonders in public areas and is actually a little afraid to switch one to,” claims Jones. “I didnt must tarnish the picture of your own LPGA otherwise all relationship I had that have sponsors, teams or associates I’d.”
Jones, an extremely short hitter whoever electricity to your greens is actually planning ahead and you may having fun with courage, had previously been once more thought a stride to come.
“Before I made the fresh new Olivia statement, We called the LPGA, each of my sponsors, my personal golf club associates from inside the Atlanta, all of the organizations that i was becoming a spokesperson, and you can partners close fellow members, so that him or her know what I happened to be going to would,” she claims. “I advised him or her that the is actually the full time to help you bail otherwise prepare for the questions they could rating.”
“I happened to be perhaps not provided one to ounce from bad feedback away from those calls,” Jones states. “It actually was no wonder in it and they failed to proper care. I really gathered endorsements the following years. New LPGA helped orchestrate my personal news interest. Instead of sweeping the niche under the rug such as the new past, it made new changeover as facile as it is possible for me, our tournaments, sponsors and you can admirers.”
One thing got changed from sitios de citas para personas adventistas para citas the early 2000s, yet still specific in the news worried about the lady private life. “It absolutely was tough to uncovered my personal heart into the concerns asked regarding myself once a round of good tennis, but in the course of time all the questions got in to tennis therefore is actually perhaps not the major procedure any more,” she claims.
Exactly what Jones found is the possibility with Olivia one to, as well as the support regarding the woman sponsors, loved ones additionally the LPGA, gave this lady a deck about what so you can in the long run end up being herself.
What she realized is actually every one of these organizations which adored her because a guy and you can acknowledged their since a specialist performed very for any reason
“I happened to be sick of maybe not authenticating which I was while the an effective person,” Jones says. “It actually was a special time in the field of football and you may lifestyle inside our nation [than whenever she very first turned into professional.] I believed the fresh new trip was a student in another type of place, sponsors had been even more efficiency-motivated additionally the societal are getting more used to the brand new homosexual lifestyle. Even more entertainers, actors, artists, people in politics was indeed away. It absolutely was the greatest time for me, the new LPGA and you may our fans.”
Upcoming, in the 2004, as this lady LPGA occupation was wandering down, Jones had a corporate chance one to needed her heading societal on this lady sexuality
Appearing back fifteen years afterwards, their hard to fathom just what an environment-shaking minute this was to possess Jones and also for the LPGA, actually the turning away from an essential area for.
“The newest viewpoints I experienced from our fans are a great deal more rewarding that currency I gotten from my the latest homosexual sponsor,” Jones states. “Somebody appeared of one’s woodwork moving away from their method thanking me getting coming-out and being brave to have located and you will representing the new LBGT society.”
From the 59, Jones is actually partial-resigned, doing carpentry, floating around and you may coping with the lady lover out-of 14 years, Carrie Sexton, with the Hilton Direct Isle. “Our new addition is actually Berty, the dog lady,” Jones claims, “And you may Im spending so much time back at my game towards the U.S. Elderly Womens Open, Elder LPGA in addition to Stories Trip.”
“It was very thrilling and you can cathartic in my situation to respond to your questions,” she said. “I’m really a sense of freedom and empowerment so you can finally express and you can let you know just what it was such personally and lots of anybody else during those times toward concert tour. Thank-you much to possess planning on myself and you will reminding me out-of my voice.”