Erik Shoji, captain of the U.S. men’s national volleyball team and one of the sport’s most accomplished liberos, came out as queer during Pride Month—sending a powerful message of authenticity and inclusion.
In a deeply personal and powerful moment, Erik Shoji—captain of the U.S. men’s national volleyball team and one of the sport’s most respected liberos—came out as queer during Pride Month.
The 35-year-old Olympian made the announcement via a heartfelt video shared on TikTok and Instagram.
His message was met with a wave of support, reflecting the growing visibility and acceptance of LGBTQ+ athletes in professional sports.
“I’m here to tell the world today that I am queer,” Shoji said in the video.
“It feels scary, but freeing at the same time. I think personal acceptance takes a while. For me, it took a long time and I'm still working through that still every day, but I think I’m stronger, more confident and more sure of myself than I’ve ever been.”
“And I feel that given who I am and the platform that I have, that this is my moment and I’m so excited to move forward after this,” he said.
Shoji’s decision to speak out during Pride Month makes his declaration all the more impactful, resonating not just with fans in the LGBTQ+ community, but with anyone navigating their own journey of self-acceptance.
He joins a growing number of athletes using their voice to advocate for inclusion and representation.
Shoji reflected on the team’s opening loss to Iran.
During the 2024 Volleyball Nations League (VNL) leg in Manila, Shoji was quickly embraced by Filipino fans, who turned up in droves to support Team USA. Though the Americans fell short against Iran, it was clear that Shoji had made a lasting impression.
“We love them. It’s a late night, we have to play them tomorrow, so they’re awesome. Salamat to all the Filipino fans. We’ll see them soon,” said Shoji.
“We know that Filipino fans love volleyball, so we thank them so much for coming and cheering. I’m from Honolulu so it’s cool to be here, and it’s been an awesome experience so far.”
[RELATED: ‘Nicest people in the world’ | Erik Shoji shows love to Filipino fans after USA’s first match in VNL Manila Leg]
As one of the world’s most decorated liberos, with three Olympic campaigns and numerous international titles under his belt, Shoji has already made history on the court.
[ALSO READ: VNL: Team USA’s Erik Shoji shares admiration for Bryan Bagunas, Alas Pilipinas]
Now, he continues to do so off it—by showing that visibility and vulnerability can go hand in hand with elite performance.