Olivia, a trips department one to catered so you’re able to lesbians, offered their an acceptance deal

“It was a difficult decision while the I have been life style an excellent magic in public and you may was a tiny frightened to improve sitios de citas gratis para pansexual one to,” claims Jones. “We didnt need certainly to tarnish the picture of one’s LPGA otherwise the matchmaking I experienced that have sponsors, teams otherwise affiliates I experienced.”

Jones, an extremely short hitter whose strength on the course are thinking ahead and you may having fun with bravery, had previously been again convinced one-step in the future.

“Prior to I generated the fresh new Olivia statement, We known as LPGA, each of my personal sponsors, my golf club affiliates for the Atlanta, most of the organizations that we are becoming a representative, and couples intimate fellow users, to let him or her understand what I happened to be about to manage,” she claims. “We told him or her this particular try committed so you’re able to bail otherwise prepare for all the questions they might get.”

“I was not provided you to oz out-of bad opinions of those people phone calls,” Jones states. “It was no wonder on them and don’t care. I actually attained endorsements the next few years. This new LPGA helped orchestrate my personal mass media notice. As opposed to capturing the niche in carpet such as the new earlier, they produced brand new change as easy as possible in my situation, the tournaments, sponsors and you may admirers.”

One thing got altered from the very early 2000s, yet still certain in the mass media focused on the woman individual existence. “It absolutely was tough to bare my heart towards concerns questioned out-of me immediately following a circular of good tennis, but eventually the questions got in so you can golf and it also is not the top situation more,” she says.

Just what Jones receive was an opportunity with Olivia that, as well as the help regarding her sponsors, relatives together with LPGA, provided their a deck on which in order to in the end feel by herself.

What she learned is all those entities whom cherished this lady due to the fact men and you may respected her because an expert performed so unconditionally

“I became sick and tired of maybe not authenticating just who I found myself as the an excellent people,” Jones states. “It actually was a unique amount of time in the realm of sporting events and you may lifestyle in our country [than simply when she first became pro.] I believed the brand new trip was at yet another put, sponsors was in fact far more overall performance-driven as well as the societal was starting to be more used to brand new gay life style. So much more performers, actors, artists, politicians was in fact away. It had been the best going back to me personally, brand new LPGA and you may our admirers.”

Up coming, into the 2004, due to the fact the woman LPGA industry was winding off, Jones had a corporate options one to needed this lady going societal from the the woman sex

Searching back 15 years afterwards, its hard to comprehend exactly what an environment-trembling second it was to have Jones and for the LPGA, truly the flipping out-of an important area both for.

“The fresh feedback I experienced from your fans is actually a lot more rewarding that currency We obtained from my personal the gay recruit,” Jones says. “Anybody appeared of woodwork going out of the method thanking me personally getting being released being courageous to possess waiting and you can symbolizing the latest LBGT area.”

At the 59, Jones is actually partial-resigned, performing woodworking, boating and managing the girl spouse from 14 years, Carrie Sexton, on Hilton Direct Isle. “The fresh addition was Berty, new puppy girl,” Jones states, “And you will I will be working hard on my video game with the U.S. Elder Womens Open, Elder LPGA and the Stories Journey.”

“It absolutely was very invigorating and you will cathartic for me personally to resolve your questions,” she said. “I believe most a sense of independence and you may empowerment in order to ultimately display and you may tell you exactly what it is actually particularly for me personally and lots of anybody else at that time on trip. Thank-you so much to have considering myself and you may reminding me off my personal voice.”