Has a male Pro Athlete ever come out of the closet during their career?

[Sandpiper]

I know there have been guys who came out afterwards, but has there ever been one who came out during?

I guess what I'm asking is, has the sports world had its gay equivalent of Jackie Robinson yet?

[terrya]

1. Nope.

All have come out after they've left their sport.

T

[Murphys_Unlawful]

2. Yeah... the whole Chicago Bears team!

[AngryAmish]

18. This is disturbing

I understand you don't like the Bears. Which is cool. I make fun of the Packers and their fans all the time.

However, on a progressive website, it is strange that someone would equate something you think is bad (the Bears) and homosexuality. Gay folks have a hard enough time in this country not to hear it around here.

[Murphys_Unlawful]

19. Sorry, lemme explain....

Sometimes I don't elaborate enough. I meant they came out of the closet now that the playoffs are starting. Basically saying they didn't show up to too many of their games. I'm sorry if I offended. :shrug:

[tcfrogs]

3. In a team sport, I don't think so

at least in the US. A number of LPGA golfers have come out, and I think Greg Louganis came out while he was still a competitive diver. That's all I can recall off-hand.

[thom1102]

26. Yup, kinda had to after he cracked open his head during the olympics...

He knew he was HIV+ and that the responsible thing to do was to come clean... at least I think that was how it happened.

[Lefta Dissenter]

4. Martina Navratilova? (eom)

:shrug:

[Sandpiper]

6. I'm sorry, I should clarify

I meant a male professional athlete.

[Coventina]

8. Yeah, I think there's a lot of WNBA players who are out

same as with the LPGA.

[Coventina]

5. Wasn't there a MLB player who came out?

I'm not a big sports person, but I seem to remember that....

[terrya]

7. Billy Bean played for the San Diego Padres...

but again, he came out after he left Major League Baseball.

[tcfrogs]

9. Who was the football player who came out in the past year or so?

Do you remember, Terrya? I think he played for Green Bay, read a big article about him in ESPN The Mag. I think he was of Samoan descent???? Just don't remember his name.

[Sandpiper]

10. Esera Tuaolo

He was a nose tackle and defensive end for the Packers back in '91-'92.

[tcfrogs]

11. Thank you

I didn't feel like googling it...

[SmileyBoy]

15. He played for the Vikings in '93-'94.

I remember him. He was a pretty good player.

[Beware the Beast Man]

12. You may be thinking of Mike Piazza's press conference.

He held one three years ago to announce that he was, in fact, not gay. This was in reaction to Mets manager Bobby Valentine offhandedly stating that there was an openly gay player in the majors. Apparently, if Piazza has to have a press conference confirming his sexuality, than that goes to show that major league sports are nowhere near ready for a player to come out. And I say that as a person who would wholeheartedly support a player if they did.

[Sandpiper]

14. I don't think there will ever be a time when sports is "ready" for it

Because, let's face it, testosterone laden, macho athletes in general are not the most progressive or open minded people in the world, especially when it comes to sexuality. One of the supreme insults to a male athlete is that they "play like a girl," and as such, they tend to be more insecure in their masculinity than most.

What it's going to take for gay athletes to get out in the open is a brave soul with extremely thick skin. Baseball wasn't "ready" for Jackie Robinson, and he had to endure a ton of abuse.

It will be the same with an openly gay athlete. Bigoted fans will heap abuse and threats, and players will form god squads within the locker room to show their displeasure. But if this person is someone who can play the game and play it well, eventually, fans and other players will accept him. Because the bottom line in sports is whether or not you can play.

[Beware the Beast Man]

20. My point exactly.

It will definitely be a number of years, and more than likely that athlete will have to have Jordan or Bonds style ability to gain even the slightest acceptance from the mainstream.

[thom1102]

25. It also refers to his reportedly being at the scene of a...

Domestic dispute with NY weatherman Sam Champion. My brother, who is NYPD, claims that Piazza was in the car leaving the scene when officers arrived in response to that domestic disturbance. He claims to know the responding officers. NYers can attest to the fact that there is open speculation about Champion's sexuality and the incident was the topic of a whisper campaign shortly thereafter. It was not long after that that Piazza had his news conference.

[TN al]

24. Are you thinking of Glenn Burke?

[fishwax]

13. Dennis Rodman didn't come out of the closet

but he did present an intentional ambiguity on his sexuality while still in the NBA, and I think I remember him saying in an interview that the idea of being with another man was exciting. But I don't know if he identified himself as gay, bisexual, open-minded, etc.

[Beware the Beast Man]

21. I think because Rodman was such an attention whore

That such observations were never taken seriously in the press. If somebody much less flamboyant than Rodman came out, it would be a huge deal.

[bobweaver]

16. Rudy Galindo the skater

[CanuckAmok]

17. Are you excluding figure skaters?

Yeah, yeah, "sweeping generalisation", I know...I know.

[liontamer]

29. very few male figure skaters say they are gay

So even if they are gay the only one who is out that i can think of is Rudy Galindo.

[mr_hat]

22. Including jockeys?

[SKKY]

23. Didn't Christian Laettner admit to being "bi-sexual" just after...

...he turned pro? It seems like I remember something about that, although I don't really pay close attention to things like that.

[tjwmason]

27. An English footballer

Justin Fashanu, came out. I don't know the story as I can't abide football (soccer to Americans), but Peter Tatchell (hard-line gay-activist) has a version of events on his web-site.

http://www.petertatchell.net/sport/justin%20fashanu.htm

[terrya]

28. I forgot a web site that might answer some questions, which I like.

http://www.outsports.com