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Michael Sam is just the latest to come out. Here’s background on Sam and other gay, lesbian and transgender athletes. Michael Sam
The defensive end and the SEC's co-defensive player of the year announced that he was gay on Feb. 9, two weeks before the National Football League’s scouting combine. He said his Missouri teammates didn't care when he told them, before the Tigers’ surprising 2013 season. "They just started shaking their heads — like, finally, he came out,'' Sam told the New York Times. Read the article
Brandon Wade / AP
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Jason Collins
In April 2013, the former Boston Celtics and Washington Wizards center announced that he was gay. He is now a free agent. Collins came out in a first-person Sports Illustrated story, saying response to it had “been remarkable.’’ Read the article
Michael Dwyer / AP
Megan Rapinoe
Ahead of the 2012 London Olympics, the sparkplug of the U.S. soccer team told Out Magazine: "For the record, I am gay.'' She added: "People want — they need — to see that there are people like me playing soccer for the good ol' U.S. of A.'' Read the article
Thomas Peter / Reuters
Brittany Griner
The WNBA and Baylor Bears star came out in 2013, after her college coach urged athletes not to discuss their sexual orientation. The No. 1 draft pick also said childhood bullying made her consider suicide as a teen. Read the article
Tony Gutierrez / AP
Robbie Rogers
The Los Angeles Galaxy midfielder came out in 2012. “I was ... really scared’’ to come out, the soccer star said in 2013. See the video
Alex Gallardo / Reuters
Orlando Cruz
The featherweight boxer from Puerto Rico came out in October 2012, describing himself as "a proud gay man." He is believed to be the first pro boxer to come out as openly gay while still competing.
Dennis M. Rivera Pichardo / AP
Billie Jean King
The tennis legend was one of three gay athletes President Obama chose to represent the United States as a delegate at Sochi. Olympic gold-medalist skater Brian Boitano and Caitlin Cahow also were named. “The responsibility to stand and possibly speak for those who don’t have a voice runs deep,’’ King said in January. Read the article
Frederick M. Brown / Getty Images
Martina Navratilova
After retirement, the tennis great has performed in benefits to fight AIDS and support community sports projects for children worldwide. The Czech native came out in 1981 after becoming a U.S. citizen. Read the article
Stefan Wermuth / Reuters
John Amaechi
The former Utah Jazz center came out in 2007, becoming the first former NBA player to do so. The reaction was such that Michael Wilbon wrote at the time: “Even one step away from tolerance . . . simply slows the march to the day when none of this stuff matters.’’ Read the column
Douglas C. Pizac / AP
Jerry Smith
The former Washington Redskins player died of AIDS on Oct. 15, 1986. Though he acknowledged he had AIDS, he never publicly acknowledged his sexual orientation. Smith's sexuality was confirmed after his death by a former teammate, pro-football player David Kopay, who had come out of the closet years earlier. The Redskins logo, along with Smith's uniform number 87, was part of the AIDS quilt.
/ The Washington Post
Sheryl Swopes
Frequently referred to as the “female Michael Jordan,’’ she was a dominant force in the WNBA. She is head coach of the Loyola University Chicago women’s basketball team.
Joel Richardson / The Washington Post
David Testo
The retired player, the first American soccer player to come out as gay, is pictured here as grand marshal in a gay-pride parade in Salt Lake City in June 2013.
Jim Urquhart / Reuters
Esera Tuaolo
The former Minnesota Vikings and Carolina Panthers tackle revealed his homosexuality on HBO's "Real Sports" because he was tired of leading a double life.
Tina Fineberg / AP
Glenn Burke
Once touted as “the next Willie Mays,’’ the former outfielder with the Los Angeles Dodgers and Oakland A's, said he had lived a double life as a homosexual while playing in the major leagues. He was the first known to have come out as gay to teammates and team owners during his pro career. He died in 1995 from AIDS-related causes. Read the article
David Bookstaver / AP
Renee Richards
Richards was a tennis player who underwent sex reassignment surgery in 1975 and later became an eye doctor. She also coached Martina Navratilova to two Wimbledon victories. In her 2007 autobiography, Richards expressed regret over the type of fame that came with her transsexuality — but did not regret transitioning gender. In 2013, she was inducted into the National Gay and Lesbian Sports Hall of Fame. Read: 14 who transitioned gender
Dave Pickoff / AP
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