A.J. Benson, hall-of-fame catcher and current manager of the three-time world champion San Francisco Titans baseball team, has had enough. A.J.’s sexuality has been the subject of public speculation for years, but the tabloids have recently raised the rumors to a fever pitch. Encouraged by his close friend and batting coach Dave Decker, A.J. decides to come out and put the rumors to rest. The former Olympian is reluctant at first, but he soon realizes that his openness could help gay, lesbian, and transgender athletes everywhere. His revelation, broadcast live on national television with the help of his former-teammate-turned-sportscaster Jim Weaver, has immediate repercussions… not just for his colleagues and fans, but for A.J. himself.
OUT! is the brainchild of TitanMen exclusive Jesse Jackman and TitanMen Vice President Keith Webb. While the core of the film is presented as adult-oriented entertainment, OUT! also features a G-rated, emotionally charged, realistic interview segment that covers topics like the difficulties of growing up as a closeted gay athlete, the challenges of being gay in professional sports, and the ways that LGBT public figures can be encouraging to the fans who look up to them.
Watch the entire 11-minute interview here.
“I’m so excited about an athlete coming out story!” says Jackman, who plays A.J. in the film and co-wrote the screenplay with Webb. “When I was a college athlete (and still closeted), I watched a lot of porn. If I’d seen a movie in which one of the characters came out, I might have been inspired to do the same. Maybe I’m hoping for too much, but perhaps that’ll happen for someone who watches OUT! — some nervous, closeted collegiate athlete — and it’ll help him become a more complete, comfortable person. This film will push a lot of erotic buttons for people, but it can also be a great social statement.”
“We wanted to highlight and celebrate the growing acceptance of openly gay athletes in professional sports,” adds Webb. “One of the biggest stigmas holding back gay athletes from coming out is the fear of losing corporate sponsorships. All that is now changing with companies like Nike and Adidas making very public statements in support of openly gay athletes. Jesse’s recent article in Huffington Post’s Queer Voices section sums up the fears and frustration of closeted gay athletes very well.”
Production began in July of 2015 with TitanMen director Jasun Mark at the helm. The film’s cast features no less than five TitanMen exclusive performers (Jackman, Dallas Steele, Nick Prescott, Diesel Washington, and Eric Nero), joined by industry veteran Luke Adams and Jackman’s real-life husband Dirk Caber. OUT! releases online at TitanMen.com on March 2, 2024 — during baseball’s spring training season, of course! The film’s companion website, OutBaseball.com — which Jackman designed — includes additional material such as behind-the-scenes photos and videos, the original production script, and links to resources where gay athletes at all levels can find community and support.
Starting on March 2, OUT! will be viewable here, exclusively from TitanMen. (NOTE: OUT! is an adult film and should only be viewed by individuals who are at least 18 years of age.)
- JESSE JACKMAN as A.J. Benson, manager of the three-time world champion San Francisco Titans
- DALLAS STEELE as Jim Weaver, GSPN television sportscaster and A.J.’s former teammate
- NICK PRESCOTT as Dave Decker, Titans batting coach
- DIESEL WASHINGTON as Tony Snow, Titans head athletic trainer
- ERIC NERO as Jake Strickland, Titans all-star pitcher
- DIRK CABER as Coach Hayes, manager of the SF Titans Japanese minor league affiliate, the Osaka Kyojin （大阪巨人）
- LUKE ADAMS as Josh Conroy, Osaka Kyojin’s newly-drafted starting catcher
OUT! was written by Keith Webb and Jesse Jackman.