With just these words: “I’m a 34-year-old NBA center. I’m black. And I’m gay,” Jason Collins becomes the first openly gay male athlete in a major American sport in a professional league. A true pioneer!

WATCH: Former NFL Quarterback Kurt Warner on Gays in Football

Retired QB Kurt Warner of the Super Bowl champions St. Louis Rams, who is well-known Christian, talks about gay players in the NFL. What he says may or may not surprise you - depending what you believe it means to be a Christian.

[via: Queerty]

The story of Alan Gendreau, an openly gay kicker from the South who set records at Middle Tennessee State and now wants a shot at playing in the NFL.

WATCH: NHL to Fight Homophobia with You Can Play Project

The National Hockey League Players’ Association and the National Hockey League today announced a historic partnership with the You Can Play Project that formalizes and advances their long-standing commitment to make the NHL the most inclusive professional sports league in the world.

“The NHL sets the standard for professional sports when it comes to LGBT outreach and we are incredibly grateful for their help and support,” said Philadelphia Flyers scout Patrick Burke, the founder of the You Can Play Project, an advocacy organization that fights homophobia in sports. “We will work with League and NHLPA officials, teams and players to ensure that we create a more inclusive hockey community at all levels.”

Said NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman: “Our motto is ‘Hockey Is For Everyone,’ and our partnership with You Can Play certifies that position in a clear and unequivocal way. While we believe that our actions in the past have shown our support for the LGBT community, we are delighted to reaffirm through this joint venture with the NHL Players’ Association that the official policy of the NHL is one of inclusion on the ice, in our locker rooms and in the stands.”

“NHL players have supported the You Can Play Project since its inception, which we are pleased to formalize and expand upon with today’s announcement,” said Don Fehr, NHLPA Executive Director. “The players believe our partnership with the NHL and You Can Play will foster an inclusive hockey environment from the grassroots level to the professional ranks.”

The official partnership with You Can Play includes a significant commitment to education and training for teams, players, media and fans plus the production and broadcast of more public service announcements.

Read more

Photo: Tom Jenkins for The Guardian

Out, Kiwi, Olympic speed skater @blakeskjellerup photographed by James Demitri

Puerto Rican featherweight boxer Orlando Cruz comes out

Orlando Cruz, a professional boxer from San Juan Puerto Rico (18-2-1, 9 KOs), former Olympian and currently ranked No. 4 Featherweight by the World Boxing Organization (WBO), is announcing today that he ”Is a proud gay man.”

Cruz is the first openly gay man in boxing history.  “I’ve been fighting for more than 24 years and as I continue my ascendant career, I want to be true to myself,” said Cruz.  “I want to try to be the best role model I can be for kids who might look into boxing as a sport and a professional career.  I have and will always be a proud Puerto Rican.  I have always been and always will be a proud gay man.”

+ here

WATCH: Oscar Pistorius Talks About the Disability Stigma and How the Paralympics Can Change It

Love this man. Articulate, gorgeous, and funny. Listen to him talk about how he approaches kids about his disability. So adorable.

WATCH: Little Boy Proposes to Novak Djokovic

Whether or not I was paid to do it (if this had been staged), I don’t think I would had the chutzpah to shout it out so plainly at the kid’s age. Nonetheless, it’s cute to get all that boy crush energy out there in the world!

ManCandy Monday: Oscar Pistorius

The London Olympics are over, but the Paralympics start next week, which means we get to see my current obsession, Oscar Pistorius, who made Track & Field history by being the first double-amputee athlete to race against fully able-bodied athletes in the Olympics. The 25-year-old South African is not only a treat to look at but a gracious and articulate individual who, in my own opinion, was the most inspiring story of the London Games.