Sports

Why Coming Out Is Such a Powerful Statement

A Gay Hockey Team Overcomes All the Stereotypes

(This story was published in 2002). By: John McClelland The mainstream media jumped on the story that World Wrestling Entertainment would be holding a same sex union on its Sept. 12 program on UPN, “Smackdown.” Billy and Chuck, former tag team champions, were scheduled to be joined in a commitment ceremony, or so the storyline […]

(This story was published in 2002). Scott Seomin of GLAAD responds to the called-off wedding of pro wrestlers Billy and Chuck: We supported the representation of Billy & Chuck, NOT the called-off wedding. The WWE lied to us two months ago when they promised that Billy & Chuck would come out and wed on the […]

(This story was published in 2003). On March 28-30, 2003, the newly formed National Gay & Lesbian Athletics Foundation (NGLAF) will present the first ever national conference on homophobia in sports. The National Gay & Lesbian Athletics Conference will converge on the campuses of MIT and Harvard for three days to discuss ways to champion […]

(This story was published in 2007). By: Ross Forman Robin Lee sells sports memorabilia at weekend trading card shows in Northern California. She’s done it for the past 10 years, selling relics at up to 10 shows a year. Other dealers near Lee at the shows offer the latest and greatest of Michael Jordan, Mickey […]

Michele Van Gorp plays for the Minnesota Lynx and is and out athlete.

(This story was published in 2005). Basketball star Sheryl Swoopes, a three-time Olympic gold medalist and three-time MVP of the WNBA, has come out publicly as a lesbian, making her the highest-profile team sport athlete to come out while playing. Swoopes, 34, has been hired as a spokeswoman for Olivia Cruises, which specializes in tour […]

(This story was published in 2005). Basketball star Sheryl Swoopes, a three-time Olympic gold medalist and three-time MVP of the WNBA, has come out publicly as a lesbian, making her the highest-profile team sport athlete to come out while playing. Here is what other media outlets and blogs are saying about it: King Kaufman, Salon.com: […]

(This story was published in 2005). This is big. Real big. Sheryl Swoopes is the most decorated, biggest-name athlete in American team sports history to come out of the closet. Period. And that’s not over-stating it. Along with Martina, she is, overnight, one of our two biggest name in sports. To say the Michael Jordan […]

How Does Rene Portland Keep Her Job?

(This story was published in 2005). By: Helen Carroll Dr. Pat Griffin has been leading the quest combating homophobia in sport for women and men in the world of sports. She is director of the “It Takes a Team” project for the Women’s Sports Foundation. I work for equality and opportunity for women and men […]

(This story was published in 2005). By: Pat Griffin On Sept. 14, 2005, Sports Illustrated posted a column by Jay Mohr, “I Don’t Love This Game.” Mohr describes the WNBA as “unwatchable” and a “debacle of a league.” He can’t understand how anyone can be entertained by “7 foot, 225 pound women from Poland who […]

(This story was published in 2004). By: Pat Griffin Dear Rosie, Thanks for coming out publicly as a lesbian professional golfer. As you made clear in your New York Times column, the gap between being out to close friends and family and coming out publicly to fans and potential corporate sponsors has been huge. I […]

(This story was published in 2005). Houston Comets start Sheryl Swoopes became the biggest name in American team sports to come out of the closet on October 26, 2005. LZ Granderson, a friend of Outsports, wrote Sheryl’s words for ESPN the Magazine. Here are some excerpts. “My reason for coming out now isn’t to be […]

(This story was published in 2006). Openly gay tennis great Billie Jean King, 63, has long been an inspiration for gay athletes. Named by Life magazine one of the “100 Most Important Americans of the 20th Century,” King, a seven-time Wimbledon champion, has been one of the most decorated out athletes since she came out […]

(This story was published in 2005). Three-time WNBA MVP Sheryl Swoopes came out of the closet to much fanfare on October 26. We got a chance to chat with Sheryl two days later. Cyd Zeigler: You must be exhausted. When are you going on your cruise with Olivia? Sheryl Swoopes: Not soon enough. Tomorrow. I […]

(This story was published in 2001). By: Peter FitzSimons Sydney Morning Herald (Reprinted by permission of the author) The connections between sport and the terrorist atrocities in New York are mercifully few, but one of them is hopefully inspiring. In my column on [Sept. 15], I mentioned one Mark Bingham, a 31-year-old rugby-playing American who […]

NOM claims the Bears made a donation to their cause and support their message. The Bears deny it. Group raffling Urlacher, "Sweetness" paraphernalia.

Now a free agent, Ayanbadejo will look for a new NFL home to carry on his LGBT advocacy