Jesse Kortuem Hopes To Help Others After 'Heated Rivalry' Inspired Him To Come Out

A push from "Heated Rivalry" helped a real-life hockey player share his truth about his sexuality ... and now he hopes to be a source of inspiration, too.

After tuning in to the hit show about rivals-turned-lovers, Minnesota native Jesse Kortuem decided to pen his coming-out story earlier this month ... and it’s turning into a mission bigger than the sport.

We caught up with Kortuem in NYC on Wednesday to see how his message is being received.

So far? The outpouring of love and support has been overwhelming.

"My goal is that this message really reaches those who need to hear it most," Kortuem said, pointing to "that kid that's struggling playing hockey right now in Fargo, or even that collegiate player who’s struggling."

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