ABOVE: Anthony Bowens (L) and Michael Pavano. Photo via Bowens’ Twitter.
A picture of openly gay professional wrestler Anthony Bowens kissing his YouTube celebrity boyfriend Michael Pavano defiantly in front of a small group of homophobic “street preachers” and protestors went viral last week.
He posted the picture after enduring homophobic abuse during a recent match.
https://twitter.com/Bowens_Official/status/1467620258395611136
AEW fans quickly rallied around him with one saying: “I hope someone finds the person that said it and bans them for life.”
Another added in the picture’s Twitter thread: “We must all keep fighting against bigotry and hatred. You are a great role model.”
In another tweet to fans and others Bowens further explained along with a clip of one of his professional matches in which anti-gay epithets are heard in the background.
https://twitter.com/Bowens_Official/status/1468783672732143623
Bowens, came out as bisexual in 2017 before later coming out as gay in 2019, made his professional wrestling debut in 2013 after playing baseball in high school and then in college at Montclair State. He was signed to a five year contract with All Elite Wrestling in 2020.
“I’m representing the LGBT+ community and athletes that are LGBT+, but even more than that, too. I’m representing the small-town kid who was told he’d never make it, and I’m here for the shy kid that is ready to burst out of his shell and be that social butterfly, the wrestler told Sports Illustrated in 2019.
“To know that I’m having a positive impact on people is a blessing, and makes me feel that I made the right decision to come out, he said adding, “I want to continue having really entertaining matches, and increase LGBT+ visibility in entertainment.”
https://twitter.com/Bowens_Official/status/1384505897322434561
Editor’s Note: Read Watermark’s interview with Bowen here.
