Video: WWE legend Pat Patterson comes out as gay
WWE wrestling legend Pat Patterson has revealed that he is gay, after over 50 years in the closet.
The 73 year old wrestler, real name Pierre Clermont, is a member of the WWE Hall of Fame, and was the first ever Intercontinental Champion.
He began wrestling in the 1960s, and became the six-time United States Champion before he joined the then-WWWF.
On WWE reality show Legends’ House, he said: “From where I come from, I had nothing, no family, no money, and I ended up [working] with Vince [McMahon]… to me, that was the biggest achievement of my life.
“But there’s more to that. Sitting here tonight, I’m going to say something I would never want to say.
“For once in my life I’m going to be me. I survived all this being gay.
“I lived with that for 50-some years. I had a friend with me for 40 years, and I lost him because he had a heart attack, and I ended up alone. But I survived. It’s tough guys, it was tough.
“I gave my life to the business, I don’t regret nothing, and for the rest of my life I want to be happy.”
Earlier this year wrestler Stone Cold Steve Austin backed same-sex marriage, saying: “I’ve got some damned good friends that are gay and I’m absolutely for same-sex marriage.
“I don’t give a shit if two guys, two gals, guy-gal, whatever it is, I believe that any human being in America, or any human being in the goddamn world, that wants to be married… if it’s the same-sex, more power to them.”
