In special AEW Represents video (via Fightful), Anthony Bowens spoke about being an openly gay wrestler in AEW and how the company has allowed him to be himself there.
He said: “I’ve been fortunate enough to be highlighted in the Out 100, the top 100 out entertainers in the country, to attitude covers of Attitude Magazine, Gay Times, and 26 Magazine, becoming AEW’s first gay champion, win the tag team titles in New York City with Max Caster, win the trios titles at Wembley Stadium with over 80,000 people, the biggest scissor party of all time. This stuff is crazy. I never thought any of this would be possible. Of course, it’s fun from a personal goal standpoint, but also someone could pick up that magazine, someone could look at that list, someone could watch me on television and go, ‘I feel validated, I feel safe, and now I have someone I can look towards as an inspiration for me to achieve my goals as well.’ That’s a very, very powerful thing. I think acceptance at every level, no matter if it’s your sexuality, whether it’s your nationality, anything, we’re all human beings. It’s all very important to accept and love one another. Here at AEW, everybody is allowed to be themselves. They’re authentically allowed to be themselves. I’m proud to be elite, and I’m proud to represent this company. I think that also is important for people to see as well because there are plenty of little boys, little girls, those who identify as non-binary that want to be professional wrestlers one day or they want to be in entertainment or they want to be in sports and they need to see that visibility, they need to have that representation so that when somebody looks on-screen and goes, ‘Oh, Anthony Bowens did it? Anthony Bowens became champion? I could become a champion.’ That is so, so important, and I’m happy to be at the forefront of that. My name is Anthony Bowens, I am ‘The Scissor King,’ I am proud to represent the LGBTQ+ community, I am proud to be elite, and always remember to keep spreading the love. You are loved, and most importantly, everyone loves The Acclaimed. Happy Pride.“
