I've always been open about my sexuality. She said, "I wouldn't say I was hiding or anything like that.
Days after the draft, Griner came out publicly in an interview with Sports Illustrated. Griner played college basketball at Baylor and was the top pick in the 2013 WNBA draft. For the record: I am gay.” Griner believes that by being out, she'll help youth to be more comfortable with themselves. She told Out magazine, “I think they were trying to be respectful and that it’s my job to say, ‘I’m gay.’ Which I am. She never tried to conceal her sexuality no one asked her. Megan Rapinoe wasn't asked about her sexuality for many years. He became the first openly gay man to play in MLS soccer when he joined the L.A. In February 2013, Rogers came out as gay in a post on his personal website. Rogers was the first active openly gay player in the MLS. Cruz also represented Puerto Rico in the Olympics in 2000. In 2013, Cruz lost his bid for the featherweight title.
On October 4, 2012, Cruz became the first active professional boxer to be openly gay. I’d love for, in 10 years’ time, not to even be an issue in sport and for people to say: ‘so what?’” Orlando Cruz wears rainbow shorts when he competes. He told The Guardian, “What I choose to do when I close the door at home has nothing to do with what I have achieved in rugby. He appeared in 100 test matches for Wales. Thomas confirmed his sexuality when still an active professional rugby player. Gareth Thomas doesn't want to be known as a gay rugby player. He played at Penn State and continued his professional career in the NBA with Orlando, Utah, and Cleveland. In early 2007, Amaechi became the first former NBA player to come out publicly through his book Man in the Middle. Amaechi was the first British NBA player and the first NBA player to come out as gay. At age 40, she became engaged to a man and told ESPN, "there's nothing in my life that I regret, or that I would go back and change." Swoopes is now the head women's basketball coach at Loyola University. She’s a four time WNBA champion and has won three Olympic Gold Medals for the U.S. Swoopes was drafted into the WNBA in 1997 and came out as a lesbian in 2005. Not only was Swoopes one of the earlier out athletes, she also was the first player drafted in the WNBA. He played at the University of South Carolina and the University of North Carolina and then professionally in the MLS for the Columbus Crew. Testo come out as gay in November of 2011, after his playing career was over. Testo was the first American professional soccer player to come out. We loved him.” Burke died in 1995 from AIDS-related causes. His teammate Davey Lopes told ESPN regarding Burke’s sexuality, “Didn’t matter to us. (AP Photo/LM)īurke didn't come out publicly until after he retired, but he didn't hide his sexuality. I just did not discuss my personal life, my sexuality with the media.” Louganis was a four time Olympic champion and the only diver to sweep the 3 meter and 10 meter diving events in consecutive Olympics.īurke's teammates knew he was gay even though he didn't openly come out. In 2006, he said, “People who were close to me – family and friends – they knew about my sexuality. In 1995, Louganis announced that he was gay and HIV-positive on The Oprah Winfrey Show. Louganis is widely considered to be the greatest diver in the history of the sport. In 1981, King was forced to come out as bisexual in a palimony suit by a former female flame. She continued a successful career winning six Wimbledon singles championships and four U.S. (Dennis Oulds/Central Press/Getty Images)Īt age 17, King and Karen Hantze won the 1971 doubles championship at Wimbledon. Here is a look at the history of some openly gay and lesbian athletes.īillie Jean King on the court at Wimbledon. Michael Sam could potentially be the first openly-gay, active NFL player however, he is not the first gay professional athlete. Twitter facebook Email This article is more than 8 years old.