“It was an emotional choice due to the fact I have been lifestyle a good wonders publicly and is actually a little frightened adjust that,” says Jones. “We didnt need certainly to tarnish the image of LPGA otherwise any of the dating I got which have sponsors, organizations or affiliates I’d.”
Jones, a highly short hitter whoever fuel towards the greens was preparing in advance and you will using courage, was once once more convinced one-step to come.
“Before I generated the new Olivia announcement, We known as LPGA, every one of my sponsors, my driver associates in Atlanta, all the communities that we are acting as a representative, and you can partners personal other professionals, to let him or her understand what I became about to perform,” she says. “I informed them this is enough time so you can bail otherwise prepare for all the questions they could get.”
“I found myself maybe not given that ounce from negative feedback off men and women phone calls,” Jones states. “It absolutely was no wonder to them as well as did not proper care. I actually achieved endorsements the next few years. New LPGA helped orchestrate my personal mass media appeal. Unlike capturing the subject according to the carpet like in brand new previous, they made the brand new transition as easy as possible for me, the tournaments, sponsors and you will fans.”
One thing got altered from the early 2000s, but nevertheless specific about mass media focused on the girl private lives. “It was hard to exposed my heart into the questions requested off myself immediately following a round of good golf, however, ultimately the questions got in so you’re able to golf plus it is actually not the major procedure more,” she claims.
Exactly what Jones located was a chance having Olivia one, and the service regarding the woman sponsors, family unit members together with LPGA, provided their a deck about what so you’re able to fundamentally become by herself.
Exactly what she found out are all these agencies just who cherished the woman just like the a man and respected her given that a specialist performed very unconditionally
“I was fed up with perhaps not authenticating whom I found myself due to the fact a good people,” Jones says. “It was another time in the field of sporting events and you may existence within our country [than just whenever she first became professional.] We thought that the latest journey was in an alternate lay, sponsors have been even more performance-determined additionally the personal is becoming more used to the brand new gay life style. A great deal more entertainers, actors, musicians, people in politics had been away. It absolutely was the best going back to me personally, brand new LPGA and you will our very own admirers.”
After that, in the 2004, as the the lady LPGA profession was wandering down, Jones got a corporate options you to necessary the girl going public on the this lady sexuality
Lookin back 15 years afterwards, the hard to fathom what a planet-moving time this was to have Jones and also for the LPGA, truly the flipping out of a significant area for both.
“The newest viewpoints I experienced from your admirers is much more satisfying that the currency We gotten from my the new gay mentor,” Jones states. “Anyone made an appearance of carpentry going out of the ways thanking me having coming out being brave to have standing and symbolizing the LBGT community.”
From the 59, Jones is actually partial-resigned, carrying out woodworking, floating around and you will living with the woman lover out-of fourteen years, Carrie Sexton, with the Hilton Direct Island. “Our very own new addition try Berty, the fresh new canine woman,” Jones says, “And you will I will https://datingranking.net/de/baptist-dating-de/ be spending so much time on my game into You.S. Older Womens Discover, Senior LPGA plus the Tales Journey.”
“It actually was really invigorating and cathartic for my situation to answer your questions,” she said. “Personally i think most a feeling of independence and you can empowerment so you’re able to in the end show and reveal exactly what it try including personally and several anyone else in those days to your tour. Thanks a great deal getting thinking of me and reminding me personally from my personal voice.”