The Westchester LGBTQ+ History Project

Anthony Nicodemo wasn’t surprised that it became a local news story when he came out as gay in 2013 while working as a basketball coach and social studies teacher in Westchester. He was surprised, however, to get a phone call from a New York Times journalist looking to share the story. Other national outlets were quick to follow.

When he came out, Nicodemo became the first openly gay male high school boys basketball coach in the New York City metropolitan area. Eleven years later, he may well be the only openly gay male high school athletic director in the entire state, according to Gay City News. The reason gay men are so underrepresented in sports, he says, is because of the stigma and toxic masculinity that still exists within our culture.

In an interview with Allee Manning, recorded in his social studies classroom at Kenneth B. Clark Academy on February 19, 2024, Nicodemo discusses the changes he has made in his life in the years since, becoming an outspoken leader in his school and local community. He also speaks to his views on the need for LGBTQ+ issues to be included in school curriculum and the relevance of LGBTQ+ history from his standpoint as a social studies teacher.

We need to understand that we have been persecuted for all existence. Because if we forget that, that’s when it happens again. So we have to keep teaching and reminding people of these things.

Anthony Nicodemo

To view the full transcript of this interview, click here.

I really believe in visibility. I think kids and coaches and other people like you need to see people like them out there. I think that’s how we make change. I think it was really valuable to have that experience and to get out there to hopefully see, let other people see that you can coach, you could be successful, and you could be gay, openly gay. And you know, my—the biggest success that I’ve had as a coach has come after being out.

The words, the way I coach, the way I embrace things: I see things much more holistically now and am much more caring in some ways. Much more empathy than I had previously. And I think part of that was letting that wall down, letting that curtain down and being able to be who I truly am.

Anthony Nicodemo