LGBT Athletes

RICHMOND, Va. -- Kevin Grayson, a star wide receiver for the University of Richmond from 2008-2011, and one of the most decorated football players in Central Virginia history, has come out as gay. [ Read more → ]

Some are calling Collins a role model for this up-and-coming generation of gay and lesbian athletes. But in some ways, a number of young athletes and their supporters also have helped pave the way for pros like Collins. [ Read more → ]

Do you consider Jason Collins a hero for coming out as the first professional gay male athlete? What about Ellen DeGeneres or Anderson Cooper, Neil Patrick Harris or Rachel Maddow? Are they heros? First, let’s be clear on the definition of the word hero. Dictionary.com defines the word hero as such: "a man of distinguished courage or ability, admired for his brave deeds and noble qualities." [ Read more → ]

Oprah Winfrey sat down with the Jason Collins and his family for a candid discussion about the NBA's player's announcement this week that he is gay. [ Read more → ]

ESPN Radio talk show host Tony Kornheiser on Tuesday said the sports network issued guidelines to its employees for discussing gay athletes following NBA player Jason Collins’ announcement Monday that he is gay. [ Read more → ]

Robbie Rogers, the former Columbus Crew player who came out in February, may be planning a comeback. [ Read more → ]

NEW YORK -- ESPN says that it regrets the "distraction" caused by one of its reporters who described Jason Collins as a sinner after the NBA center publicly revealed that he was gay. [ Read more → ]

CHEYENNE, Wyo. -- The mother of a gay University of Wyoming student who was robbed and beaten to death in 1998 says she finds it touching that NBA veteran Jason Collins honored her son by wearing jersey No. 98. [ Read more → ]

American Family Association spokesman Bryan Fischer is joining other anti-gay activists in attacking Jason Collins, the NBA player who on Monday came out as gay. [ Read more → ]

Washington Wizards center Jason Collins said a "huge weight has been lifted" from his shoulders after becoming the first athlete in a major U.S. team sport to come out as gay, and that he hopes other gay athletes "raise their hand" and follow his lead. [ Read more → ]

NEW YORK — Jason Collins, who came out Monday as gay while still an active NBA player, broke one of the last remaining barriers in North America for gays and lesbians in era of constant political gains and ever-growing public acceptance. [ Read more → ]

WASHINGTON -- A groundbreaking pronouncement from NBA veteran Jason Collins - "I'm gay" - reverberated Monday through Washington, generating accolades from lawmakers on Twitter and a supportive phone call from President Barack Obama. [ Read more → ]

NEW YORK -- The National Football League distributed a document to its teams Monday reiterating its anti-discrimination policy on sexual orientation. [ Read more → ]

ESPN sportscaster Chris Broussard on Monday publicly bashed Washington Wizards' center Jason Collins, just hours after the veteran NBA play became the first active male player in the four major American professional sports to come out as gay. [ Read more → ]

WASHINGTON — The White House on Monday joined the chorus of praise by commending NBA veteran Jason Collins for becoming the first active male player in the four major American professional sports to come out as gay. [ Read more → ]

NEW YORK — NBA veteran center Jason Collins has become the first active male professional athlete in the major four American sports leagues to come out as gay. [ Read more → ]

ALBANY, N.Y. — The NFL is taking action to better protect gay players from harassment and discrimination as a result of meetings with New York state's attorney general. [ Read more → ]

Alan Gendreau, a former kicker for Middle Tennessee State University and the leading scorer in Sun Belt Conference history, is now an NFL hopeful -- an openly gay NFL hopeful. [ Read more → ]

The National Hockey League and its players association on Thursday announced a groundbreaking partnership with the "You Can Play" project in what is likely the most comprehensive effort by a major North American sports league to support gay athletes. [ Read more → ]

NEW YORK — The NFL says it found no "specific violations" in investigating whether team recruiters had questioned potential players about their sexual orientation during a February scouting combine. [ Read more → ]