“When we get to the point where a gay pro athlete is no longer forced to live in fear that he'll be shunned by teammates or outed by tabloids, when we get to the point where he plays while his significant other waits in the family room, when we get to the point where he's not compelled to hide his true self and is able to live an authentic life, then coming out won't be such a big deal. But we're not there yet.” SelfPlayBigsAbleWaitingRoomsDealsGayAthleteSignificantComing OutTrue SelfCompelledBig DealTeammateTabloidsSignificant OtherAuthentic LifePro Athlete Author:Jason Collins
“All in all it's a pretty great day for major league sports. At long last they've decided that gay people are fit to be included in their elite club-one that's already allowed in adulterers, wife-swappers, gamblers, cheaters, rapists, racists and slaughterers of man. Those who've abused spouses, drugs, alcohol, family members and animals. Congratulations, gay athletes. Are you sure you want to hang out with these people?” PeopleMenWantLongLastsSportsChangeAnimalWifeFitGayDrugMembersMajorsDecidedAthleteClubsAlcoholLeagueRacistHanging OutElitesSpouseCongratulationsGay PeopleFamily MembersGreat DayMajor LeagueCheater Author:Jon Stewart
“I despise stereotypes. A gay man can be a macho athlete, or he can be an interior designer or any career in between.” MenCareersGayAthleteDesignerDespiseStereotypeInteriorsGay MenMachoInterior Designer Author:Lori Foster
“Was it a risky move? Yes, but at that moment, the reason why I came out is I thought it wasn't going to be a big deal. Maybe I was naive. Maybe I thought it was 2014, and people will understand that there's gay NFL players. There's gay athletes everywhere. But I was clearly wrong. It was a huge deal.” PeopleReasonMomentsBigsMovingDealsPlayerHugeGayAthleteReason WhyNflThat MomentNaiveBig DealNfl Players Author:Michael Sam
“I came out as a gay as I have earned myself respect as an athlete. I have only lost 2 out of 22 professional fights. I knocked out some of my opponents in the first round. But I never really received respect as a person. That's something I had come to realize over the past few years. The end of my boxing career is no longer that far off, and it was time for me to make peace with myself. And there was a second reason for me to come out: I hoped it would make me a better boxer.” ReasonPastFightingRealizingGayAthleteBoxingSelf RespectOver The PastMaking Peace Author:Orlando Cruz
“It's of very little importance to me that I was born gay. It doesn't make me a better athlete, it doesn't make me a stronger person, it doesn't really do anything to enhance my life. It's just something I was born with, the same as green eyes.” InspirationalLittlesPersonsEyeBornGayImportanceStrongerGreenAthleteLgbtGreen EyesStronger PersonBorn Gay Author:Johnny Weir
“I've never thought of the Olympics as a political statement. I really think a boycott ... is in the wrong as far as the athletes are concerned.” ThinkingPoliticalGayConcernedAthleteStatementsOlympicsBoycott Author:Johnny Weir