30 Gay, Lesbian and Bi Athletes Who Have Come Out in the Past Year

oday, Oct. 11, is National Coming Out Day, a day for LGBT people to stand up and be counted. It's a perfect time to remind everyone that gay and lesbian athletes are part of the community of people making their voices heard and being proud.

The perception is that few athletes are out, and that this owes to the fact that no active player is out in professional male team sports in North America, to which so much attention is paid. But in reviewing the Outsports archives since last Coming Out Day, I have found 30 male and female athletes who have come out (or were previously out and decided to tell their story publicly). The list is impressive and includes people from football, basketball, boxing, mixed martial arts, wrestling, soccer, rugby, Australian football, gymnastics, skiing, volleyball, ice hockey, field hockey, tennis, and even poker.

Some came out while still active, others after their careers ended, but all are proud and willing to tell their stories. This list does not include the dozens of coming-out stories told on Outsports over the years, a list that is as inspiring as it is broad.

Here are the 30 coming-out-in-sports stories featured on Outsports since last National Coming Out Day, with links (just click on the name) so that you can read more about each athlete. Think of this the next time someone tries to argue that gays and sports don't mix.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jim-buzinski/30-gay-lesbian-and-bi-athletes-who-have-come-out-in-the-past-year_b_1956453.html