Sports

(This story was published in 2002). As the sports editor of Genre magazine, and in my role at Outsports, I was partly responsible for the article in Genre’s July issue in which professional runner Derrick Peterson came out of the closet. Having spent the better part of a weekend with him, it has been both […]

Derrick Peterson says "I'm definitely not heterosexual"

(This story was published in 2002) Déric Peterson, the 2001 U.S. 800 meters indoor champion, becomes a very rare individual in July’s issue of Genre magazine: an out professional athlete. Having spent much of the last few years in college at the University of Missouri, and now running track professionally with a sponsorship deal from […]

Tuaolo offers his thoughts on what the NFL can be doing to ready for openly gay athletes

Donte Stallworth and Rashad Evans on board with Athlete Ally; Mike Rice uses gay slurs at previous job; Megan Rapinoe playing in France; profile of Chris Kluwe.

The League announces no punishments will be handed out regarding allegedly asking draftees about being gay

(This story was published in 2002). By: Debbie Woodell Reprinted with permission by the Philadelphia Daily News WHAT CYNDI BUTZ endured is beyond belief in this day and age. The former outside linebacker for the Philadelphia Liberty Belles, a team in the National Women’s Football League, was barraged with sexually charged remarks during her one […]

Mitrione calls the trans MMA fighter "a lying, sick, sociopathic, disgusting freak"

There is no value to dropping hints that anonymous pro athletes are about to come out.

(This story was published in 2002). Sports talk show host Dave “Softy” Mahler made a surprise call to me three weeks after an on-air Super Bowl bet that many thought was homophobic. Mahler, who does a morning show on KJR Radio in Seattle, was one of the participants in a bet that, had the St. […]

(This story was published in 2000). Rudy Galindo, possibly the only professional out male athlete in the United States, has been diagnosed with HIV. “If my story can help people, anybody at all, it is positive,” said Galindo, the 1996 U. S. National Figure Skating Champion. “I’ve always tried to help people, whether it be […]

(This story was published in 2000). Steve Reeves, a ’50s bodybuilding champion who became famous as “Hercules” in dozens of films has died at 74. Reeves had a huge gay following in a day when seeing any kind of beefcake was all but impossible. Many a man went to see Hercules movies simply to gaze […]

(This story was published in 2000). Boxer Lennox Lewis has declared that he is not gay, despite the fact that he does live with his mother and owns a pet poodle. From Salon Magazine: “I am definitely, definitely not gay and never have been,” Lewis tells London’s Daily Telegraph. “I love women.” Although not, perhaps, […]

(This story was published in 1999). Updated 01/10/02: In the story below, Stewart is circumspect about his orientation. But in the Jan. 14, 2002, issue of Sports Illustrated, in a feature on Stewart’s on-field renaissance, the writer, Michael Silver, addressed the gay issue this way: Some Steelers admit they were fazed by rumors that Stewart […]

More people in athletics say it's time to start talking openly about homophobia

(This story was published in 2001). Being gay and being a jock is not necessarily a poisonous combination to Madison Avenue, the New York Times reports in its July 9, 2001 edition (note: you may need to register to read the article). Times advertising columnist Stuart Elliott details three recent campaigns that feature openly gay […]

(This story was published in 2001). From NCAA News The NCAA Committee on Women’s Athletics (CWA) is concerned that homophobia in intercollegiate athletics has become a problem with a variety of negative effects — for student-athletes, coaches and athletics administrators. The committee, which met in San Francisco June 27-29, has forwarded several recommendations regarding homophobia […]

(This story was published in 2002). UPDATE: The Softer Side of ‘Softy’, February 19, 2002 KJR-AM 950 sports radio in Seattle thinks making fun of gays makes for quality broadcasting. Sports talk show host Dave “Softy” Mahler has made an on-air Super Bowl bet with Steve Sandmeyer, who does sports updates. The payoff? If Mahler […]

Mike Tyson threatens to rape a reporter he calls a 'faggot,' and the sports media yawns.