So The Cat Is Out Of The Bag……….

I wasn’t exactly sure what I should write here after the article hit the Hartford Courant website on Saturday night. These are just thoughts as they come spilling out of me.

A few things……

First, a huge THANK YOU to the folks at the Hartford Courant for their professionalism and discretion in the way they handled this story. There are a lot of elements that went into this process over the past couple of weeks. There were many delicate matters that had to be discussed. They could not have been better to deal with during all of this. That needs to be said. Real journalism isn’t dead. It still lives. The Hartford Courant has made me believe that.

Next, I should address why I chose to do this now. The article talks about it some, but we always find ourselves remembering things we would have liked to say if we had the opportunity to do the interview again. Plain and simple. If not now, then when?? I am 33 years old and I didn’t want to go on living my life in a “dual-personality” sort of way. Some may have assumed I was gay over the years. Some might have thought otherwise. Up until recently, I hadn’t been in many meaningful relationships (over the past 3 years). I have been seeing somebody now for a couple of months and its been a great experience. This contributed some to my decision to do this now. I didn’t come out while working for Clear Channel and ESPN Radio 1410. The reason was simple. I couldn’t be sure upper-management would have my back if the ratings declined as a result of coming out of the closet. As many stories as were told in the Courant article, in terms of some of the things I have endured being out in the workplace, I didn’t share all of my stories out of fear for a backlash against me by radio executives. In the end, I now regret not coming out while on the air with Clear Channel. I will leave it at that.

I have lived my life as two different people for the past 11 years. There was the Jason everybody knew on the air and there was the Jason who lived a much different life than anyone had probably imagined. This often created conflicts for me that I just got used to “managing” over the past decade. Introducing a partner or a boyfriend as a “friend.” Having to remind said “friend” that in public we couldn’t show affection towards one another and had to be careful what we discussed within ear-shot of others. I forgot how much work that had been over the past 10 years. It was only through talking with Desmond Conner that I realized what I had been putting myself through.

I am at a crossroads in my life both personally and professionally. I was on the fence for a few days on whether or not to reveal this “secret” out of fear of what it might mean to my career. Radio is an extremely subjective business. As one very high-profile personality told me in private: “You never want to give a radio or TV outlet a reason not to hire you.” Now, I have done so. For as much as we might like to believe discrimination doesn’t exist towards all minorities, I can tell you that it does. I have worked in the media biz since I was 17 years old. If they don’t have a reason not to hire you or a reason to fire you, they will find or concoct one. This is a truth that might make some media insiders cringe and it might even cost me a few opportunities for work, but it’s the reality of the world we live in.

I have long made it known that my preference would be to continue my career here in Connecticut. I hope that can be the case. I would actually take less money to stay here and be surrounded by the people of this state, then to go elsewhere for more money and have to build a fan-base again. However, I am 33 and realize that may not be possible. I have a wish-list of about 6 or 7 cities I would be willing to re-locate to if the job was right. I love doing play-by-play, the talk show stuff and some TV. So I have some options at this point.

Up until today, I have always viewed being gay as a minute part of who I am. Like the color of my hair or hazel eyes, I never wanted it to define me. I realize thats not possible in the world we live in. And if I can help just one other person whose in a similar situation to the one I have been faced with for the last decade, then believe it or not, this has all been worth it. I am sure I will have more to say. But this is it for now.

The Hartford Courant has this story on it’s front page for its Sunday edition of the paper. I am honored they thought it was important enough to be placed there. I will be appearing on the FOX CT morning show sometime in the 8 AM EST hour on Monday morning. I will also be appearing on WPLR’s morning show with Chaz and AJ in the 9 AM hour to discuss.

I have always welcomed your feedback. That will never change.

Thanks for all your support.

JASON PAGE