“It was a difficult choice as the I have been life an effective secret in public and you will are a little frightened to improve that,” claims Jones. “I didnt need to tarnish the image of the LPGA otherwise the matchmaking I’d with sponsors, organizations otherwise associates I experienced.”

Jones, a highly small hitter whoever stamina into golf course was preparing in advance and you may playing with courage, had previously been once more convinced one-step ahead.

“Before I made new Olivia announcement, I known as LPGA, each one of my personal sponsors, my personal club associates in Atlanta, all the communities which i is becoming a spokesperson, and you may partners personal other members, to allow them understand what I was planning to manage,” she claims. “I advised her or him that is actually committed so you’re able to bail or plan all the questions they might score.”

“I was perhaps not provided one ounce from negative feedback out of the individuals calls,” Jones says. “It had been not surprising that on them as well as failed to care and attention. I actually achieved recommendations the following years. The new LPGA aided orchestrate my news focus. Instead of sweeping the topic within the rug such as the latest past, it generated the new transition as facile as it is possible for me, our very own competitions, sponsors and fans.”

One thing got changed from the early 2000s, but nevertheless some about media worried about the woman individual existence. “It absolutely was tough to bare my spirit toward questions expected away from myself shortly after a spherical of great tennis, but sooner the questions got back in order to golf therefore are perhaps not the top procedure any further,” she claims.

Exactly what Jones discover try an opportunity having Olivia that, as well as the help from their sponsors, family relations and the LPGA, gave the lady a patio on what so you can finally become by herself.

Just what she found out is actually each one of these entities exactly who adored the woman once the a guy and you can known this lady once the an expert performed thus unconditionally

“I happened to be tired of maybe not authenticating whom I became because an effective person,” Jones states. “It had been another time in the field of football and you will life inside our country [than when she very first became expert.] We believed that brand new tour was a student in another type of lay, sponsors have been far more overall performance-determined plus the societal is starting to be more used to brand new homosexual lifestyle. A lot more performers, actors, painters, people in politics was in fact aside. It absolutely was the ultimate time for myself, the latest LPGA and you will our very own fans.”

Then, from inside the 2004, since the girl LPGA community are winding down, Jones had a corporate options you to requisite the lady going public about the woman sexuality

Lookin right back 15 years after, its difficult to comprehend just what an earth-trembling minute this is for Jones and for the LPGA, actually the turning out-of an important part for.

“The fresh new feedback I had from our admirers was alot more fulfilling that money I received out of my the brand new homosexual sponsor,” Jones claims. “Anyone appeared https://datingranking.net/de/abenteuer-dating/ of your own carpentry losing sight of its ways thanking me having developing being courageous for located and you will representing new LBGT society.”

From the 59, Jones was partial-retired, undertaking carpentry, boating and you can managing the woman mate out of 14 years, Carrie Sexton, to your Hilton Direct Area. “The recent addition try Berty, the fresh dog lady,” Jones says, “And you can I am working hard on my video game into U.S. Elderly Womens Unlock, Older LPGA and Stories Tour.”

“It absolutely was very thrilling and you can cathartic in my situation to answer the questions you have,” she said. “Personally i think most a feeling of independence and you may empowerment so you can in the end share and you may let you know what it try for example for me personally and many anybody else during that time toward trip. Thank-you much for thinking about myself and you may reminding myself regarding my sound.”