Coming Out Stories

Mason Briles was a fencer in high school and is now secretary of Alpha Sigma Phi fraternity at Auburn University. He came out as gay on Twitter.

Mark McAdam, a sportscaster for Sky Sports, has come out as gay. He also took off all of his clothes, which we're not mad at.

David Sweeney came out to his Univ. of Michigan track & field teammates, but he regrets not being able to help another teammate do the same.

Nate Alfson used to fear road trips on his college baseball team and lived a life in the closet. Now out, he knows what true happiness is.

Palmer will this season be the first openly gay person to officiate in one of the "Big Four" sports.

For Michael Perkins, May 21 was liberation day, the day he finally released himself from his inner pain and torment about being gay. Sports played a key role in his acceptance.

Ryan Beene grew up in a small Texas town where he took to cutting himself before opening up with family, friends and teammates about being gay.

Bree Bailey struggled with her sexuality until she realized she was a lesbian. "Nothing any of you can say will be able to change the fact I like girls."

Connor Taras, a sprint kayaker, was kept from the 2012 Olympics by his struggles in the closet. Since coming out as gay last year, Taras has found a new “gay super power.” Look out, 2016.

Jeff Sanborn coaches boys cross-country and boys and girls track & field at Wethersfield High School in Connecticut. He came out as gay to his teams recently. It went without incident.

Dustin Petzold prefers Led Zeppelin to Lady Gaga and has the fashion sense of Bill Belichick. He now realizes he does fit in to a larger culture.

Brad Thorson came out as gay on Independence Day. He played college football for Wisconsin, Kansas, and he was with the Arizona Cardinals for their 2011 training camp.

Juan Mendoza-Tovar was the captain of his basketball and tennis teams for Cascade High School in rural Washington this year. Telling his traditional Mexican parents that he is bisexual was difficult, but they embraced him.

Gay WNBA executive talks for the first time about growing up in Montana football, his near suicide attempt, and finding freedom through out lesbian basketball coach Sherri Murrell.

Jack L. Thorne has three state titles, including a state record in the 100m backstroke. Today he came out as gay on Facebook and Twitter, and he shares his story here.

You can change the lives of LGBT athletes simply by telling your story. If you're an LGBT athlete, coach or sports administrator, and you're ready to share, we'd love for you to tell your story on Outsports.

Chris Cassingham is a swimmer and graduating senior at Plano West Senior High School in Plano, Texas. He has only come out to a handful of people but wanted to share his story here.

Charline Labonte played in her fourth Winter Olympics for Canada in Sochi. Her girlfriend, speed skater Anastasia Buscis, was there with her. Labonte talks here for the first time about being gay.

"Although we hear many recent coming out stories, many times we fail to ask what comes after the announcement," Agata Dera writes. Her struggles became a triumph.

Twitter; Facebook; in class; via e-mail; cupcakes; by kissing a boyfriend -- these are among the many ways LGBT athletes have come out to their family, friends, teams and the world.