Orlando Cruz becomes first boxer still fighting to announce he is gay "Like every father, he wants his son to be a full-blooded man," Cruz said. But he is aware of my preference, my taste. Pedro Julio Serrano, spokesman for the U.S. based National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, praised Cruz for his decision and said it breaks stereotypes that gay people are not involved in sports like boxing. "It also gives a lot of hope to young gays who can see in him the integrity and bravery to be who you are and face a society that is often intolerant, especially in this type of sport," he said. Reaction to Cruz's announcement was largely positive across social media, with many praising him for taking what they called a brave step given the sport's violent history. Among those who sent messages of support was Puerto Rican singer Ricky Martin, who announced he was gay in 2010. Some Twitter messages expressed concern for Cruz's safety and wondered whether other boxers will be reluctant to fight him. Dommys Delgado, president of the Boxing Commission of Puerto Rico, brushed aside those concerns. "Orlando has proven to be an excellent boxer with very good chances of becoming a world champion," she said. We do know that it is a very macho sport. Those who don't want to fight with him, well, don't fight. The only other professional boxer who was quoted as saying that he had relations with men and women was U.S. Virgin Islander Emile Griffith, who told The New York Times in 2005 that he struggled with his sexuality. His comments came decades after he ended his 18-year career as a pro boxer. Griffith is best known for his 1962 fight against Cuban Benny Paret, who taunted Griffith with gay slurs before the bout. Griffith knocked him out, and Paret died 10 days later. Cruz said he is prepared for the fallout from his announcement, saying many boxers had already suspected he was gay but gave him privacy. "I've been fighting for more than 24 years and as I continue my ascendant career, I want to be true to myself," he said. I have always been and always will be a proud gay man.