Phoenix Suns president and CEO Rick Welts was bracing for negative backlash after he publicly came out as a gay executive in a New York Times interview. Welts shared his experience over the past week with XTRA 910 radio in Phoenix.
↵"I was braced for it, and I know you're going to find this hard to believe, but not one of those interactions up to this point has been somebody who felt the need to express dissatisfaction. Every single one has been written out of wanting me to know that that person supported me, thanked me, was proud of me, or somehow impacted their own situation. ... That blows me away."
↵When he returned to work for the first time after the announcement, the participants of a Suns' leadership group meeting stood up an applauded. Even Welt's 13-year-old niece said he "cool factor" at school had increased due to the publicity her famous uncle was receiving.
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PHOENIX - JANUARY 12: (left to right) Rick Welts President and Chief Operating Officer of the Phoenix Suns talks with NBA Commissioner David Stern during warm-ups prior to the NBA game against the Utah Jazz at America West Arena on January 12, 2003 in Phoenix, Arizona. The suns won 107-99. (Photo by Barry Gossage/NBAE/Getty Images)