ESPN's Israel Gutierrez Com Out As Gay, Announc Marriage | Ripti 2.0 | Miami | Miami New Tim | The Leadg Inpennt News Source Miami, Florida

Contents:

• THIS GAY SPORTS REPORTER FALLY EXHALED WHEN SHE ULD BE HERSELF
• GAY SPORTS REPORTER EXPLAS HOW HER IENDS ‘SHUT DOWN’ HOMOPHOBIA AT SCHOOL STATN
• WHEN THIS GAY SPORTS RAD HOST ME OUT, SAVED HIS REER
• ESPN REPORTER ISRAEL GUTIERREZ COM OUT AS GAY—AND ENGAGED!"I’D BLOW OUT MY BIRTHDAY NDL WH THE SAME WISH: 'PLEASE DON’T LET ME BE GAY.'"{FONT:NORMAL 800 1.2REM/1.2 "D BOLD",SANS-SERIF;TEXT-TRANSFORM:NORMAL;LOR:HER;DISPLAY:LE-BLOCK;PADDG-BOTTOM:6PX;POSN:RELATIVE;TEXT-TRANSFORM:UPPERSE;}{BACKGROUND:#89308A;BOTTOM:0;NTENT:'';DISPLAY:BLOCK;HEIGHT:2PX;LEFT:0;POSN:ABSOLUTE;RIGHT:0;-WEBK-TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;WIDTH:100%;}{LEFT:51%;RIGHT:51%;WIDTH:0;}{FONT:NORMAL 800 1.2REM/1.2 "D BOLD",SANS-SERIF;TEXT-TRANSFORM:NORMAL;LOR:HER;DISPLAY:LE-BLOCK;PADDG-BOTTOM:6PX;POSN:RELATIVE;TEXT-TRANSFORM:UPPERSE;}{BACKGROUND:#89308A;BOTTOM:0;NTENT:'';DISPLAY:BLOCK;HEIGHT:2PX;LEFT:0;POSN:ABSOLUTE;RIGHT:0;-WEBK-TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;WIDTH:100%;}{LEFT:51%;RIGHT:51%;WIDTH:0;}LIFEBY DAN AVERYSEPTEMBER 5, 2015/7:12 PMBY DAN AVERYSEPTEMBER 5, 2015 / 7:12 PM{"@NTEXT":","@TYPE":"NEWSARTICLE","HEADLE":"ESPN REPORTER ISRAEL GUTIERREZ COM OUT AS GAY—AND ENGAGED!","DATEPUBLISHED":"2015-09-05T23:12:23.000+0000","DATEMODIFIED":"2015-09-05T23:12:23.000+0000","IMAGE":{"@NTEXT":","@TYPE":"IMAGEOBJECT","WIDTH":1920,"HEIGHT":1080},"URL":","THOR":{"@TYPE":"ORGANIZATN","NAME":"LOGO TV"},"MAENTYOFPAGE":{"@TYPE":"WEBPAGE","@ID":"},"PUBLISHER":{"@TYPE":"ORGANIZATN","@ID":","NAME":"LOGO TV","URL":","LOGO":{"@TYPE":"IMAGEOBJECT"}},"CREATOR":"DAN AVERY","ARTICLESECTN":"LIFE"}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}ESPN REPORTER ISRAEL GUTIERREZ ME OUT AS GAY A PERSONAL BLOG POST ON FRIDAY, REVEALG HE'S GETTG MARRIED TO HIS BOYIEND NEXT {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}IN "THANKS FOR READG," THE 38-YEAR-OLD SPORTS MENTATOR SCRIBED STGGLG WH HIS SEXUALY WHEN HE WAS YOUNGER—AND HOW FIANCé DAVID KCHEN HELPED HIM ACCEPT {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}"STARTG MY EARLY TEENS UNTIL SOMEWHERE MY LATE 20S, I’D BLOW OUT MY BIRTHDAY NDL WH THE SAME WISH: 'PLEASE DON’T LET ME BE GAY.'"{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}GUTIERREZ, WHO APPEARS ON AROUND THE HORN AND THE SPORTS REPORTERS, ATTRIBUT WEIGHT GA HIS TEEN YEARS TO A SIRE TO AVOID DATG, AND SAYS THE FEW RELATNSHIPS WH WOMEN HE HAD NEVER GOT {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}"I DIDN’T WANT THEM TO GET HURT OR EVEN ALLOW THEM TO WASTE THEIR TIME WH ME," HE EXPLAED. "AND YET, WHENEVER I EVEN ME CLOSE TO ACCEPTG MYSELF AS BEG GAY, SOMETHG ELSE WOULD REIGNE MY {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}GUTIERREZ STARTED VISG GAY BARS HIS 20S, BUT JT FELT {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}"'I DON’T F . THIS ISN’T ME. NOBODY THIS PLACE KNOWS WHAT I’M GOG THROUGH.' THAT’S WHAT I TOLD MYSELF. AND EVERY TIME, I’D LEAVE MORE CERTA THAN EVER THAT I WAS JT NFED. FIXABLE, IF YOU WILL."{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}IT WAS MEETG KCHEN 2009, THAT BEGAN GUTIERREZ ON THE ROAD TO {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}"NOT ONLY HAD I LONG AGO NVCED MYSELF THAT THERE WAS NO ONE OUT THERE FOR ME, BUT I WAS STILL SO ASHAMED OF BEG GAY, I ULD BARELY SAY OUT LOUD—EVEN WHEN I WAS SPEAKG WH ANOTHER GAY PERSON," HE {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}"BUT ONE 24-HOUR SPAN THAT BEGAN WH THAT TRODUCTN TO DAVID, ALL CHANGED. NOT ONLY WAS THERE, POSSIBLY, SOMEONE OUT THERE FOR ME, BUT I HAD BEEN MAKG LIFE SO UNNECSARILY DIFFICULT ON MYSELF... I STILL REMEMBER THE MOMENT THE REVELATN SWEPT OVER ME. I HAD BEEN SO DUMB."{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}HE ALSO CREDS OUT ATHLET LIKE MARTA NAVRATILOVA, WA DAVIS, ABBY WAMBACHE, AND PECIALLY GARETH THOMAS, THE BRISH GBY PLAYER WHO ME OUT LATE {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}"THOMAS’ STORY WAS SO PELLG, AND HAD SO MANY SIAR NOT TO MY OWN, MA ME WONR HOW MANY YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN ARE STILL HAVG TO GO THROUGH THIS SAME EXISTENCE. HIDG YOURSELF OM YOURSELF."{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}HE END HIS POST BY STATG THAT BEG OPEN WILL ALLOW HIM TO BE A BETTER VERSN OF HIMSELF, PERSONALLY AND {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}"HAPPS TENDS TO BRG OUT THE BT A PERSON. AND I’M SO HAPPY RIGHT NOW."{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}KCHEN MOVED OM PHOENIX TO BE WH GUTIERREZ THE YEAR SAME THEY MET, AND THEIR LIFE TOGETHER SOUNDS PRETTY DARN ADORABLE: "WE HAVE TWO DOGS, WERE ENGAGED FEBARY 2014, AND SPE NEVER, EVER ENVISNG MYSELF HAVG A WEDDG OF ANY KD, WILL HAVE A VERY TRADNAL WEDDG VERY SHORTLY."{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}THE GUYS ARE TYG THE KNOT ON SEPTEMBER 12. READ GUTIERREZ'S FULL POST {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;CLEAR:BOTH;}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;MARG:0 TO;WIDTH:90%;M-WIDTH:288PX;MAX-WIDTH:1440PX;M-HEIGHT:194PX;}LATT NEWS
• ESPN'S ISRAEL GUTIERREZ COM OUT AS GAY, ANNOUNC MARRIAGE
• ESPN RAD'S JARED MAX REVEALS HE'S GAY ON AIR, FOLLOWS ANNOUNCEMENT OF RICK WELTS & WILL SHERIDAN
• ROB {LOR:#595959;FONT-FAY:GILROY,HELVETI,ARIAL,SANS-SERIF;FONT-WEIGHT:600;MARG-BOTTOM:0.625REM;}@MEDIA(MAX-WIDTH: 48REM){{FONT-SIZE:0.875REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.2;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 48REM){{FONT-SIZE:1.25REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.2;}} A{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN-THICKNS:0.0625REM;TEXT-RATN-LOR:HER;TEXT-UNRLE-OFFSET:0.25REM;LOR:HER;-WEBK-TRANSN:ALL 0.3S EASE--OUT;TRANSN:ALL 0.3S EASE--OUT;} A:HOVER{LOR:#A00000;TEXT-RATN-LOR:BORR-LK-BODY-HOVER;}TELEVISN BROADSTER ROB ROBERTS ROSE TO PROMENCE THE 1990S AS A HOST OF ESPN'S 'SPORTSCENTER' AND AS A GUT REPORTER ON ABC'S 'GOOD MORNG AMERI.' IN 2005, SHE WAS HIRED AS A FULL-TIME -ANCHOR OF THE MORNG NEWS {MARG-BOTTOM:0.625REM;PADDG-RIGHT:0.3125REM;LOR:#323232;FONT-FAY:GILROY,HELVETI,ARIAL,SANS-SERIF;FONT-SIZE:0.75REM;LE-HEIGHT:1;FONT-WEIGHT:800;} SPAN{LE-HEIGHT:1.6;FONT-FAY:GILROY,HELVETI,ARIAL,SANS-SERIF;}{FONT-STYLE:NORMAL;PADDG-RIGHT:0.3125REM;FONT-FAY:RALAS,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;LOR:#323232;FONT-SIZE:0.75REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.3;FONT-WEIGHT:BOLD;TEXT-TRANSFORM:PALIZE;}{DISPLAY:LE-BLOCK;TEXT-TRANSFORM:UPPERSE;MARG-LEFT:0.625REM;FONT-FAY:GILROY,HELVETI,ARIAL,SANS-SERIF;FONT-SIZE:0.75REM;LE-HEIGHT:1;FONT-WEIGHT:800;}UPDATED: APR 16, {DISPLAY:-WEBK-BOX;DISPLAY:-WEBK-FLEX;DISPLAY:-MS-FLEXBOX;DISPLAY:FLEX;}{MARG-BOTTOM:0.9375REM;POSN:RELATIVE;}@MEDIA(MAX-WIDTH: 64REM){{MAX-WIDTH:LC(100VW - (1REM * 2));MARG-LEFT:1REM;MARG-RIGHT:1REM;} .E152U5OS0{WIDTH:100VW;MARG-LEFT:LC(-1 * 1REM);}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 48REM) AND (MAX-WIDTH: 61.25REM){{MARG-LEFT:TO;MARG-RIGHT:TO;} .E152U5OS0{WIDTH:100VW;MARG-LEFT:LC((100VW - (LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM) - 2 * 1REM)) / -2);}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 61.25REM) AND (MAX-WIDTH: 90REM){{MAX-WIDTH:LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM);MARG-LEFT:LC((100VW - LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM) - 1REM - 20.625REM) / 2);PADDG-LEFT:1REM;PADDG-RIGHT:1REM;} .E152U5OS0{WIDTH:100VW;MARG-LEFT:LC(LC((100VW - LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM) - 1REM - 20.625REM) / -2) - 1REM);}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 90REM){{MARG-LEFT:LC((100VW - LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM)) / 2);MAX-WIDTH:LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM);PADDG-LEFT:1REM;PADDG-RIGHT:1REM;} .E152U5OS0{WIDTH:100VW;MARG-LEFT:LC(LC((100VW - LC(20.625REM * 2 + 1REM)) / -2) - LC(2 * 1REM));}[DATA-HAS-SPONSOR] {MARG-LEFT:LC((100VW - LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM)) / 4);MARG-RIGHT:LC((100VW - LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM)) / 4);}}{JTIFY-SELF:CENTER;POSN:RELATIVE;}@MEDIA(MAX-WIDTH: 48REM){{MARG-LEFT:-50VW;MARG-RIGHT:-50VW;WIDTH:100VW;LEFT:50%;RIGHT:50%;}}{HEIGHT:TO;}@MEDIA(MAX-WIDTH: 48REM){{MARG:TO LC(50% - 50VW);}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 48REM){{MARG:TO;}}{POSN:RELATIVE;HEIGHT:TO;}{POSN:RELATIVE;WIDTH:100%;HEIGHT:100%;OBJECT-F:VER;VERTIL-ALIGN:TOP;}{LE-HEIGHT:1;MARG-TOP:0.3125REM;}@MEDIA(MAX-WIDTH: 73.75REM){{PADDG-LEFT:0.9375REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 64REM){{PADDG-LEFT:0;}}{PADDG-RIGHT:0.3125REM;LOR:#595959;FONT-FAY:GILROY,HELVETI,ARIAL,SANS-SERIF;FONT-SIZE:0.75REM;LE-HEIGHT:1;FONT-WEIGHT:800;}PHOTO: MICHAEL LOCCISANO/GETTY IMAG FOR THE STEVE HARVEY {PADDG:0 0.3REM;PADDG-RIGHT:0.3125REM;LOR:#595959;PADDG-LEFT:0;FONT-FAY:GILROY,HELVETI,ARIAL,SANS-SERIF;FONT-SIZE:0.75REM;LE-HEIGHT:1;FONT-WEIGHT:800;}//GETTY {FONT-FAY:CHARTER,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;FONT-SIZE:1.1875REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.6;PADDG-LEFT:0REM;PADDG-RIGHT:0REM;POSN:RELATIVE;}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 48REM){{PADDG-LEFT:3.5REM;PADDG-RIGHT:3.5REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 48REM) AND (MAX-WIDTH: 61.25REM){{MAX-WIDTH:45.25REM;MARG-LEFT:TO;MARG-RIGHT:TO;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 61.25REM){{PADDG-LEFT:0REM;PADDG-RIGHT:0REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 73.75REM) AND (MAX-WIDTH: 100REM){{PADDG-LEFT:0REM;PADDG-RIGHT:0REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 90REM){{PADDG-LEFT:0REM;PADDG-RIGHT:0REM;}} EM{FONT-STYLE:ALIC;FONT-FAY:CHARTER,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;} STRONG{FONT-FAY:CHARTER,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;FONT-WEIGHT:BOLD;}{CLEAR:BOTH;NTENT:" ";DISPLAY:BLOCK;FONT-SIZE:0.7REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.5REM;HEIGHT:0REM;VISIBILY:HIDN;}{FONT-FAY:CHARTER,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;FONT-SIZE:1.1875REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.6;} STRONG{FONT-FAY:CHARTER,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;FONT-WEIGHT:BOLD;} EM{FONT-STYLE:ALIC;FONT-FAY:CHARTER,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;}(1960-){LOR:#323232;FONT-FAY:GILROY,HELVETI,ARIAL,SANS-SERIF;FONT-WEIGHT:800;LETTER-SPACG:0.02EM;MARG-BOTTOM:0.625REM;MARG-TOP:0.625REM;}@MEDIA(MAX-WIDTH: 48REM){{FONT-SIZE:1.875REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.1;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 48REM){{FONT-SIZE:2REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.1;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 64REM){{FONT-SIZE:2REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.1;}} B, STRONG{FONT-FAY:HER;FONT-WEIGHT:BOLD;} EM, I{FONT-FAY:HER;FONT-STYLE:ALIC;}WHO IS ROB ROBERTS?JOURNALIST ROB ROBERTS GREW UP MISSISSIPPI AND EARNED A GREE MUNITNS OM SOUTHEASTERN LOUISIANA UNIVERSY 1983. SHE WENT ON TO BEE A SPORTS REPORTER AND ANCHOR FOR A LOL TV STATN MISSISSIPPI. AT AGE 29, ROBERTS BEGAN HOSTG ESPN'S SPORTSCENTER AND, NOT LONG AFTER, APPEARG AS A GUT REPORTER ON GOOD MORNG AMERI. IN 2005, SHE WAS HIRED AS A FULL-TIME -ANCHOR OF THE MORNG NEWS PROGRAM. IN AUGT 2012, ROBERTS TOOK A LEAVE OF ABSENCE OM GOOD MORNG AMERI ORR TO UNRGO TREATMENT FOR A RARE BLOOD DISORR THAT SHE NTRACTED AFTER UNRGOG CHEMOTHERAPY FOR BREAST NCER. SHE RETURNED TO THE SHOW ON FEBARY 20, 2013. IN EARLY 2014, ROBERTS OFFICIALLY ME OUT AS A GAY WOMAN.EARLY LIFEROB RENé ROBERTS WAS BORN ON NOVEMBER 23, 1960, TKEGEE, ALABAMA AND GREW UP PASS CHRISTIAN, MISSISSIPPI. THE YOUNGT OF FOUR SIBLGS AND THE DGHTER OF A TKEGEE AIRMEN PILOT, ROBERTS SPENT HER CHILDHOOD CULTIVATG ATHLETIC AND AMIC SUCCS, GRADUATG AS HER HIGH SCHOOL'S SALUTATORIAN. HER SISTER, SALLY-ANN ROBERTS, BEME A LOL NEWS ANCHOR, AND ROB FOLLOWED HER FOOTSTEPS, EARNG A JOURNALISM SCHOLARSHIP AND A GREE MUNITNS OM SOUTHEASTERN LOUISIANA UNIVERSY.EARLY BROADST CAREERIMMEDIATELY AFTER GRADUATG OM LLEGE, ROBERTS ED HER UNIQUE BATN OF ATHLETIC TALENT AND JOURNALISTIC SKILL TO BEE A SPORTS REPORTER AND ANCHOR FOR A LOL TV STATN MISSISSIPPI. SHE PROGRSED AND SUCCEED, MOVG EVERY YEAR OR TWO TO A LARGER CY THE SOUTH — OM HATTIBURG TO BILOXI TO NASHVILLE AND THEN ATLANTA — AS HER POPULARY AND EXPERIENCE GREW.ESPN TO 'GOOD MORNG AMERI'AT AGE 29, ROBERTS WAS HIRED BY ESPN, WHERE SHE HOSTED THE WORK'S FLAGSHIP NEWS PROGRAM, SPORTSCENTER. AROUND THIS SAME TIME, SHE BEGAN MAKG APPEARANC AS A GUT REPORTER ON GOOD MORNG AMERI, A SHOW BROADST BY ABC, A SISTER WORK OF ESPN (BOTH WORKS ARE OWNED BY THE WALT DISNEY COMPANY).IN 2005, AFTER YEARS OF NTRIBUTG TO BOTH ESPN AND GOOD MORNG AMERI, ABC HIRED ROBERTS AS A FULL-TIME -ANCHOR OF THE MORNG NEWS PROGRAM. WHEN DIANE SAWYER, THEN AN ANCHOR ON GOOD MORNG AMERI, WAS NAMED ANCHOR OF ABC WORLD NEWS, THE WORK'S NIGHTTIME NEWS PROGRAM, ROBERTS AND {-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN-THICKNS:0.0625REM;TEXT-RATN-LOR:HER;TEXT-UNRLE-OFFSET:0.25REM;LOR:#A00000;-WEBK-TRANSN:ALL 0.3S EASE--OUT;TRANSN:ALL 0.3S EASE--OUT;}{LOR:#595959;TEXT-RATN-LOR:BORR-LK-BODY-HOVER;}GEE STEPHANOPOULOS SERVED AS -ANCHORS. TOGETHER, THE TWO HELPED LEAD THE SHOW TO THE TOP OF THE PETIVE MORNG SHOW RATGS, BEATG NBC'S TODAY SHOW, WHICH HAD HELD THE NO. 1 SPOT FOR MORE THAN A .CANCER AND BONE MARROW TRANSPLANTIN AUGT 2012, ROBERTS TOOK A LEAVE OF ABSENCE OM GOOD MORNG AMERI ORR TO UNRGO TREATMENT FOR A RARE BLOOD DISORR THAT SHE NTRACTED AS A PLITN OF THE CHEMOTHERAPY SHE RECEIVED FOR BREAST NCER 2007. ROBERTS HAD A BONE MARROW TRANSPLANT SEPTEMBER. {--DATA-EMBED-DISPLAY:FLEX;-WEBK-ALIGN-EMS:CENTER;-WEBK-BOX-ALIGN:CENTER;-MS-FLEX-ALIGN:CENTER;ALIGN-EMS:CENTER;CLEAR:BOTH;DISPLAY:-WEBK-BOX;DISPLAY:-WEBK-FLEX;DISPLAY:-MS-FLEXBOX;DISPLAY:FLEX;MARG-BOTTOM:0.9375REM;MARG-LEFT:TO;MARG-RIGHT:TO;WIDTH:100%;}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 20REM){{WIDTH:100%;MARG:0 TO 0.9375REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 30REM){{WIDTH:100%;MARG:0 TO 0.9375REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 40.625REM){{WIDTH:100%;MARG:0 TO 0.9375REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 48REM){{WIDTH:100%;MARG:0 TO 0.9375REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 64REM){{WIDTH:100%;MARG:0 TO 0.9375REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 73.75REM){{WIDTH:100%;MARG:0 TO 0.9375REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 75REM){{WIDTH:100%;MARG:0 TO 0.9375REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 90REM){{WIDTH:100%;MARG:0 TO 0.9375REM;}} A SPAN{RIGHT:1REM;} IMG{WIDTH:TO;HEIGHT:85VH;} A{DISPLAY:-WEBK-LE-BOX;DISPLAY:-WEBK-LE-FLEX;DISPLAY:-MS-LE-FLEXBOX;DISPLAY:LE-FLEX;POSN:VAR(--POSN, RELATIVE);} IMG:NOT(.EWCW41W1){DISPLAY:BLOCK;WIDTH:100%;HEIGHT:TO;-WEBK-ALIGN-SELF:FLEX-START;-MS-FLEX-EM-ALIGN:FLEX-START;ALIGN-SELF:FLEX-START;}{WIDTH:100%;DISPLAY:-WEBK-LE-BOX;DISPLAY:-WEBK-LE-FLEX;DISPLAY:-MS-LE-FLEXBOX;DISPLAY:LE-FLEX;-WEBK-FLEX-DIRECTN:LUMN;-MS-FLEX-DIRECTN:LUMN;FLEX-DIRECTN:LUMN;MARG-LEFT:TO;MARG-RIGHT:TO;-WEBK-BOX-PACK:CENTER;-MS-FLEX-PACK:CENTER;-WEBK-JTIFY-NTENT:CENTER;JTIFY-NTENT:CENTER;}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 20REM){{PADDG-LEFT:0REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 30REM){{PADDG-LEFT:0REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 40.625REM){{PADDG-LEFT:0REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 48REM){{PADDG-LEFT:0REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 64REM){{PADDG-LEFT:0REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 73.75REM){{PADDG-LEFT:0REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 75REM){{PADDG-LEFT:0REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 90REM){{PADDG-LEFT:0REM;}}{WIDTH:0;M-WIDTH:100%;PADDG-TOP:0.625REM;LOR:#323232;FONT-WEIGHT:BOLD;MARG-BOTTOM:0.3125REM;FONT-FAY:CHARTER,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;FONT-SIZE:1REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.4;} EM, I{FONT-FAY:HER;FONT-STYLE:ALIC;} EM{FONT-STYLE:ALIC;FONT-FAY:CHARTERITALIC,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;}ROB {PADDG-LEFT:0REM;LE-HEIGHT:1;}PHOTO: MICHAEL LOCCISANO/GETTY IMAG FOR THE STEVE HARVEY FOUNDATN//GETTY IMAGON THE DAY SHE ANNOUNCED ON-AIR THAT SHE WAS SICK WH MYELODYSPLASTIC SYNDROME, THE WEBSE FOR BE THE MATCH, A NONPROF ANIZATN THAT KEEPS A NATNAL BONE MARROW DONATN REGISTRY, EXPERIENCED AN 1,800 PERCENT SPIKE DONORS. ROBERTS HERSELF DID NOT RELY ON THE REGISTRY, BUT RATHER ON HER SISTER, SALLY-ANN, WHO DOCTORS EMED AN EXCELLENT MATCH. NOHELS, ROBERTS ADVOTED FOR BONE MARROW DONATN VIA BE THE MATCH AND ENURAGED VIEWERS TO REGISTER.RETURN TO 'GMA'ON FEBARY 20, 2013, ROBERTS MA HER FIRST APPEARANCE ON GOOD MORNG AMERI SCE SHE HAD BEGUN TREATMENT. THE WORLD WNSED HER EMOTNAL RETURN AND HAPPY RNN WH THE GOOD MORNG AMERI STAFF. ROBERTS HELPED GOOD MORNG AMERI W S BT RATGS NUMBERS SCE THE MORNG AFTER THE PRINTIAL ELECTN NOVEMBER 2012, AS 6.1 LN VIEWERS TUNED TO SEE HER RETURN TO THE AIR. "I HAVE BEEN WAG 174 DAYS TO SAY THIS: GOOD MORNG, AMERI!" SHE SAID DURG THE SEGMENT.ROBERTS REMAS A POPULAR -HOST ON THE SHOW, ALONGSI STEPHANOPOULOS AND FORMER FOOTBALL STAR MICHAEL STRAHAN.BOOKS, AWARDS AND PERSONALTHE NEWS ANCHOR HAS THORED MULTIPLE BOOKS, CLUDG FROM THE HEART: 7 RUL TO LIVE BY AND EVERYBODY’S GOT SOMETHG.FOLLOWG HER REVERY, ROBERTS WAS HONORED AT THE 2013 ESPYS WH THE PRTIG ARTHUR ASHE COURAGE AWARD, WHICH WAS PRENTED BY BASKETBALL STAR LEBRON JAM. ADDNALLY, SHE RECEIVED THE WALTER CRONKE AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE JOURNALISM 2014 AND WAS DUCTED TO THE SPORTS BROADSTG HALL OF FAME 2016.IN EARLY JANUARY 2014, ROBERTS OFFICIALLY ME OUT AS A GAY WOMAN ON GOOD MORNG AMERI. SHE HADN'T PUBLICLY DISCSED HER SEXUAL ORIENTATN PRR TO THIS ANNOUNCEMENT. THE PUBLIC ALSO GOT TO SEE A PHOTO OF ROBERTS'S GIRLIEND, AMBER LAIGN, ON THE SHOW, FOLLOWG THE NEWS ANCHOR'S {BORR:0;BORR-BOTTOM:TH SOLID BLACK;MARG:1.875REM 0;CLEAR:BOTH;}QUICK FACTS
• SKY SPORTS NEWS PRENTER OUT AS GAY
• TEXAS JUDGE WHO DON’T WANT TO PERFORM GAY MARRIAGE CEREMONI HOP WEB SIGNER’S SUPREME COURT SE HELPS HER FIGHT

THIS GAY SPORTS REPORTER FALLY EXHALED WHEN SHE ULD BE HERSELF

She cut her hair, trad her drs, and started beg more of her gay self. Young sports reporter Lren Rosenberg me on our radar at Outsports earlier this year, when she published an say about beg the first openly gay sports reporter at the Universy of Missouri’s legendary rad statn, KCOU. On this weeks’ edn of “The Sports Kiki, ” I spoke wh Rosenberg about her time at KCOU, and how she navigated the challeng of verg big-time llege athletics as an openly gay person.

GAY SPORTS REPORTER EXPLAS HOW HER IENDS ‘SHUT DOWN’ HOMOPHOBIA AT SCHOOL STATN

As a gay person, n be mentally strag to always play the role of traffic p.

“It’s so liberatg to be open about beg gay and havg mental illns, bee ’s a part of what mak me, ‘me, ’” Rosenberg said. For Heroux, the sentimental gift brought back memori om his childhood, and how difficult was for him growg up gay nservative Saskatoon. NBC is sendg multiple openly gay reporters and broadsters to Tokyo, cludg Shepard Smh, Steve Kornacki, Johnny Weir, Kate Stt, G Kenworthy and Chase Ca.

WHEN THIS GAY SPORTS RAD HOST ME OUT, SAVED HIS REER

The Canadian speedskater me out rponse to Rsia’s passg of repugnant anti-gay laws.

I felt like I was like the only gay person the entire world. Heroux believ beg openly gay allows him to have eper relatnships wh members of Team Canada. “I’ve always said that my beg gay was probably the greatt blsg of my life, bee ’s allowed me to be a way better reporter, ” he said.

“For me, as a gay sports reporter, I jt thk I’m better prepared to listen fully, appreciate fully and unrstand fully the journey the athlet have been through. That dtry notor for employg no gays whatsoever: TV and broadstg? So I talked to Jon Kliment, the voice of mor league hockey’s Elmira Enforcers, about his experienc tryg to work his way up as an out gay voice an dtry that’s sorely need of reprentatn.

ESPN REPORTER ISRAEL GUTIERREZ COM OUT AS GAY—AND ENGAGED!"I’D BLOW OUT MY BIRTHDAY NDL WH THE SAME WISH: 'PLEASE DON’T LET ME BE GAY.'"{FONT:NORMAL 800 1.2REM/1.2 "D BOLD",SANS-SERIF;TEXT-TRANSFORM:NORMAL;LOR:HER;DISPLAY:LE-BLOCK;PADDG-BOTTOM:6PX;POSN:RELATIVE;TEXT-TRANSFORM:UPPERSE;}{BACKGROUND:#89308A;BOTTOM:0;NTENT:'';DISPLAY:BLOCK;HEIGHT:2PX;LEFT:0;POSN:ABSOLUTE;RIGHT:0;-WEBK-TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;WIDTH:100%;}{LEFT:51%;RIGHT:51%;WIDTH:0;}{FONT:NORMAL 800 1.2REM/1.2 "D BOLD",SANS-SERIF;TEXT-TRANSFORM:NORMAL;LOR:HER;DISPLAY:LE-BLOCK;PADDG-BOTTOM:6PX;POSN:RELATIVE;TEXT-TRANSFORM:UPPERSE;}{BACKGROUND:#89308A;BOTTOM:0;NTENT:'';DISPLAY:BLOCK;HEIGHT:2PX;LEFT:0;POSN:ABSOLUTE;RIGHT:0;-WEBK-TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;WIDTH:100%;}{LEFT:51%;RIGHT:51%;WIDTH:0;}LIFEBY DAN AVERYSEPTEMBER 5, 2015/7:12 PMBY DAN AVERYSEPTEMBER 5, 2015 / 7:12 PM{"@NTEXT":","@TYPE":"NEWSARTICLE","HEADLE":"ESPN REPORTER ISRAEL GUTIERREZ COM OUT AS GAY—AND ENGAGED!","DATEPUBLISHED":"2015-09-05T23:12:23.000+0000","DATEMODIFIED":"2015-09-05T23:12:23.000+0000","IMAGE":{"@NTEXT":","@TYPE":"IMAGEOBJECT","WIDTH":1920,"HEIGHT":1080},"URL":","THOR":{"@TYPE":"ORGANIZATN","NAME":"LOGO TV"},"MAENTYOFPAGE":{"@TYPE":"WEBPAGE","@ID":"},"PUBLISHER":{"@TYPE":"ORGANIZATN","@ID":","NAME":"LOGO TV","URL":","LOGO":{"@TYPE":"IMAGEOBJECT"}},"CREATOR":"DAN AVERY","ARTICLESECTN":"LIFE"}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}ESPN REPORTER ISRAEL GUTIERREZ ME OUT AS GAY A PERSONAL BLOG POST ON FRIDAY, REVEALG HE'S GETTG MARRIED TO HIS BOYIEND NEXT {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}IN "THANKS FOR READG," THE 38-YEAR-OLD SPORTS MENTATOR SCRIBED STGGLG WH HIS SEXUALY WHEN HE WAS YOUNGER—AND HOW FIANCé DAVID KCHEN HELPED HIM ACCEPT {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}"STARTG MY EARLY TEENS UNTIL SOMEWHERE MY LATE 20S, I’D BLOW OUT MY BIRTHDAY NDL WH THE SAME WISH: 'PLEASE DON’T LET ME BE GAY.'"{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}GUTIERREZ, WHO APPEARS ON AROUND THE HORN AND THE SPORTS REPORTERS, ATTRIBUT WEIGHT GA HIS TEEN YEARS TO A SIRE TO AVOID DATG, AND SAYS THE FEW RELATNSHIPS WH WOMEN HE HAD NEVER GOT {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}"I DIDN’T WANT THEM TO GET HURT OR EVEN ALLOW THEM TO WASTE THEIR TIME WH ME," HE EXPLAED. "AND YET, WHENEVER I EVEN ME CLOSE TO ACCEPTG MYSELF AS BEG GAY, SOMETHG ELSE WOULD REIGNE MY {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}GUTIERREZ STARTED VISG GAY BARS HIS 20S, BUT JT FELT {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}"'I DON’T F . THIS ISN’T ME. NOBODY THIS PLACE KNOWS WHAT I’M GOG THROUGH.' THAT’S WHAT I TOLD MYSELF. AND EVERY TIME, I’D LEAVE MORE CERTA THAN EVER THAT I WAS JT NFED. FIXABLE, IF YOU WILL."{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}IT WAS MEETG KCHEN 2009, THAT BEGAN GUTIERREZ ON THE ROAD TO {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}"NOT ONLY HAD I LONG AGO NVCED MYSELF THAT THERE WAS NO ONE OUT THERE FOR ME, BUT I WAS STILL SO ASHAMED OF BEG GAY, I ULD BARELY SAY OUT LOUD—EVEN WHEN I WAS SPEAKG WH ANOTHER GAY PERSON," HE {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}"BUT ONE 24-HOUR SPAN THAT BEGAN WH THAT TRODUCTN TO DAVID, ALL CHANGED. NOT ONLY WAS THERE, POSSIBLY, SOMEONE OUT THERE FOR ME, BUT I HAD BEEN MAKG LIFE SO UNNECSARILY DIFFICULT ON MYSELF... I STILL REMEMBER THE MOMENT THE REVELATN SWEPT OVER ME. I HAD BEEN SO DUMB."{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}HE ALSO CREDS OUT ATHLET LIKE MARTA NAVRATILOVA, WA DAVIS, ABBY WAMBACHE, AND PECIALLY GARETH THOMAS, THE BRISH GBY PLAYER WHO ME OUT LATE {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}"THOMAS’ STORY WAS SO PELLG, AND HAD SO MANY SIAR NOT TO MY OWN, MA ME WONR HOW MANY YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN ARE STILL HAVG TO GO THROUGH THIS SAME EXISTENCE. HIDG YOURSELF OM YOURSELF."{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}HE END HIS POST BY STATG THAT BEG OPEN WILL ALLOW HIM TO BE A BETTER VERSN OF HIMSELF, PERSONALLY AND {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}"HAPPS TENDS TO BRG OUT THE BT A PERSON. AND I’M SO HAPPY RIGHT NOW."{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}KCHEN MOVED OM PHOENIX TO BE WH GUTIERREZ THE YEAR SAME THEY MET, AND THEIR LIFE TOGETHER SOUNDS PRETTY DARN ADORABLE: "WE HAVE TWO DOGS, WERE ENGAGED FEBARY 2014, AND SPE NEVER, EVER ENVISNG MYSELF HAVG A WEDDG OF ANY KD, WILL HAVE A VERY TRADNAL WEDDG VERY SHORTLY."{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}THE GUYS ARE TYG THE KNOT ON SEPTEMBER 12. READ GUTIERREZ'S FULL POST {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;CLEAR:BOTH;}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;MARG:0 TO;WIDTH:90%;M-WIDTH:288PX;MAX-WIDTH:1440PX;M-HEIGHT:194PX;}LATT NEWS

Ten years ago, ESPN Rad host Jared Max had a qutn: Were sports fans ready to hear an openly gay man read the sports news?

He opened the word document stg his puter, and told his listeners he was gay. “I never wanted to be the gay sportsster, ” he said.

ESPN'S ISRAEL GUTIERREZ COM OUT AS GAY, ANNOUNC MARRIAGE

For the next 16 years, Max proceed to live a double life: gay when he went out, and straight the rad stud.

ESPN RAD'S JARED MAX REVEALS HE'S GAY ON AIR, FOLLOWS ANNOUNCEMENT OF RICK WELTS & WILL SHERIDAN

The night before his big announcement, he read a quote om Charl Barkley, who said he had gay teammat, and did not re at all.

When I me out as gay on Boston’s WEEI 2016, Max clud my announcement one of his updat. Sce publicly g out 2015, Gutierrez, who works as an NBA reporter and mentator for ESPN, has emerged as one of the most proment openly gay figur sports media.

ROB {LOR:#595959;FONT-FAY:GILROY,HELVETI,ARIAL,SANS-SERIF;FONT-WEIGHT:600;MARG-BOTTOM:0.625REM;}@MEDIA(MAX-WIDTH: 48REM){{FONT-SIZE:0.875REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.2;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 48REM){{FONT-SIZE:1.25REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.2;}} A{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN-THICKNS:0.0625REM;TEXT-RATN-LOR:HER;TEXT-UNRLE-OFFSET:0.25REM;LOR:HER;-WEBK-TRANSN:ALL 0.3S EASE--OUT;TRANSN:ALL 0.3S EASE--OUT;} A:HOVER{LOR:#A00000;TEXT-RATN-LOR:BORR-LK-BODY-HOVER;}TELEVISN BROADSTER ROB ROBERTS ROSE TO PROMENCE THE 1990S AS A HOST OF ESPN'S 'SPORTSCENTER' AND AS A GUT REPORTER ON ABC'S 'GOOD MORNG AMERI.' IN 2005, SHE WAS HIRED AS A FULL-TIME -ANCHOR OF THE MORNG NEWS {MARG-BOTTOM:0.625REM;PADDG-RIGHT:0.3125REM;LOR:#323232;FONT-FAY:GILROY,HELVETI,ARIAL,SANS-SERIF;FONT-SIZE:0.75REM;LE-HEIGHT:1;FONT-WEIGHT:800;} SPAN{LE-HEIGHT:1.6;FONT-FAY:GILROY,HELVETI,ARIAL,SANS-SERIF;}{FONT-STYLE:NORMAL;PADDG-RIGHT:0.3125REM;FONT-FAY:RALAS,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;LOR:#323232;FONT-SIZE:0.75REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.3;FONT-WEIGHT:BOLD;TEXT-TRANSFORM:PALIZE;}{DISPLAY:LE-BLOCK;TEXT-TRANSFORM:UPPERSE;MARG-LEFT:0.625REM;FONT-FAY:GILROY,HELVETI,ARIAL,SANS-SERIF;FONT-SIZE:0.75REM;LE-HEIGHT:1;FONT-WEIGHT:800;}UPDATED: APR 16, {DISPLAY:-WEBK-BOX;DISPLAY:-WEBK-FLEX;DISPLAY:-MS-FLEXBOX;DISPLAY:FLEX;}{MARG-BOTTOM:0.9375REM;POSN:RELATIVE;}@MEDIA(MAX-WIDTH: 64REM){{MAX-WIDTH:LC(100VW - (1REM * 2));MARG-LEFT:1REM;MARG-RIGHT:1REM;} .E152U5OS0{WIDTH:100VW;MARG-LEFT:LC(-1 * 1REM);}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 48REM) AND (MAX-WIDTH: 61.25REM){{MARG-LEFT:TO;MARG-RIGHT:TO;} .E152U5OS0{WIDTH:100VW;MARG-LEFT:LC((100VW - (LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM) - 2 * 1REM)) / -2);}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 61.25REM) AND (MAX-WIDTH: 90REM){{MAX-WIDTH:LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM);MARG-LEFT:LC((100VW - LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM) - 1REM - 20.625REM) / 2);PADDG-LEFT:1REM;PADDG-RIGHT:1REM;} .E152U5OS0{WIDTH:100VW;MARG-LEFT:LC(LC((100VW - LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM) - 1REM - 20.625REM) / -2) - 1REM);}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 90REM){{MARG-LEFT:LC((100VW - LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM)) / 2);MAX-WIDTH:LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM);PADDG-LEFT:1REM;PADDG-RIGHT:1REM;} .E152U5OS0{WIDTH:100VW;MARG-LEFT:LC(LC((100VW - LC(20.625REM * 2 + 1REM)) / -2) - LC(2 * 1REM));}[DATA-HAS-SPONSOR] {MARG-LEFT:LC((100VW - LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM)) / 4);MARG-RIGHT:LC((100VW - LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM)) / 4);}}{JTIFY-SELF:CENTER;POSN:RELATIVE;}@MEDIA(MAX-WIDTH: 48REM){{MARG-LEFT:-50VW;MARG-RIGHT:-50VW;WIDTH:100VW;LEFT:50%;RIGHT:50%;}}{HEIGHT:TO;}@MEDIA(MAX-WIDTH: 48REM){{MARG:TO LC(50% - 50VW);}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 48REM){{MARG:TO;}}{POSN:RELATIVE;HEIGHT:TO;}{POSN:RELATIVE;WIDTH:100%;HEIGHT:100%;OBJECT-F:VER;VERTIL-ALIGN:TOP;}{LE-HEIGHT:1;MARG-TOP:0.3125REM;}@MEDIA(MAX-WIDTH: 73.75REM){{PADDG-LEFT:0.9375REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 64REM){{PADDG-LEFT:0;}}{PADDG-RIGHT:0.3125REM;LOR:#595959;FONT-FAY:GILROY,HELVETI,ARIAL,SANS-SERIF;FONT-SIZE:0.75REM;LE-HEIGHT:1;FONT-WEIGHT:800;}PHOTO: MICHAEL LOCCISANO/GETTY IMAG FOR THE STEVE HARVEY {PADDG:0 0.3REM;PADDG-RIGHT:0.3125REM;LOR:#595959;PADDG-LEFT:0;FONT-FAY:GILROY,HELVETI,ARIAL,SANS-SERIF;FONT-SIZE:0.75REM;LE-HEIGHT:1;FONT-WEIGHT:800;}//GETTY {FONT-FAY:CHARTER,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;FONT-SIZE:1.1875REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.6;PADDG-LEFT:0REM;PADDG-RIGHT:0REM;POSN:RELATIVE;}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 48REM){{PADDG-LEFT:3.5REM;PADDG-RIGHT:3.5REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 48REM) AND (MAX-WIDTH: 61.25REM){{MAX-WIDTH:45.25REM;MARG-LEFT:TO;MARG-RIGHT:TO;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 61.25REM){{PADDG-LEFT:0REM;PADDG-RIGHT:0REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 73.75REM) AND (MAX-WIDTH: 100REM){{PADDG-LEFT:0REM;PADDG-RIGHT:0REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 90REM){{PADDG-LEFT:0REM;PADDG-RIGHT:0REM;}} EM{FONT-STYLE:ALIC;FONT-FAY:CHARTER,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;} STRONG{FONT-FAY:CHARTER,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;FONT-WEIGHT:BOLD;}{CLEAR:BOTH;NTENT:" ";DISPLAY:BLOCK;FONT-SIZE:0.7REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.5REM;HEIGHT:0REM;VISIBILY:HIDN;}{FONT-FAY:CHARTER,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;FONT-SIZE:1.1875REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.6;} STRONG{FONT-FAY:CHARTER,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;FONT-WEIGHT:BOLD;} EM{FONT-STYLE:ALIC;FONT-FAY:CHARTER,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;}(1960-){LOR:#323232;FONT-FAY:GILROY,HELVETI,ARIAL,SANS-SERIF;FONT-WEIGHT:800;LETTER-SPACG:0.02EM;MARG-BOTTOM:0.625REM;MARG-TOP:0.625REM;}@MEDIA(MAX-WIDTH: 48REM){{FONT-SIZE:1.875REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.1;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 48REM){{FONT-SIZE:2REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.1;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 64REM){{FONT-SIZE:2REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.1;}} B, STRONG{FONT-FAY:HER;FONT-WEIGHT:BOLD;} EM, I{FONT-FAY:HER;FONT-STYLE:ALIC;}WHO IS ROB ROBERTS?JOURNALIST ROB ROBERTS GREW UP MISSISSIPPI AND EARNED A GREE MUNITNS OM SOUTHEASTERN LOUISIANA UNIVERSY 1983. SHE WENT ON TO BEE A SPORTS REPORTER AND ANCHOR FOR A LOL TV STATN MISSISSIPPI. AT AGE 29, ROBERTS BEGAN HOSTG ESPN'S SPORTSCENTER AND, NOT LONG AFTER, APPEARG AS A GUT REPORTER ON GOOD MORNG AMERI. IN 2005, SHE WAS HIRED AS A FULL-TIME -ANCHOR OF THE MORNG NEWS PROGRAM. IN AUGT 2012, ROBERTS TOOK A LEAVE OF ABSENCE OM GOOD MORNG AMERI ORR TO UNRGO TREATMENT FOR A RARE BLOOD DISORR THAT SHE NTRACTED AFTER UNRGOG CHEMOTHERAPY FOR BREAST NCER. SHE RETURNED TO THE SHOW ON FEBARY 20, 2013. IN EARLY 2014, ROBERTS OFFICIALLY ME OUT AS A GAY WOMAN.EARLY LIFEROB RENé ROBERTS WAS BORN ON NOVEMBER 23, 1960, TKEGEE, ALABAMA AND GREW UP PASS CHRISTIAN, MISSISSIPPI. THE YOUNGT OF FOUR SIBLGS AND THE DGHTER OF A TKEGEE AIRMEN PILOT, ROBERTS SPENT HER CHILDHOOD CULTIVATG ATHLETIC AND AMIC SUCCS, GRADUATG AS HER HIGH SCHOOL'S SALUTATORIAN. HER SISTER, SALLY-ANN ROBERTS, BEME A LOL NEWS ANCHOR, AND ROB FOLLOWED HER FOOTSTEPS, EARNG A JOURNALISM SCHOLARSHIP AND A GREE MUNITNS OM SOUTHEASTERN LOUISIANA UNIVERSY.EARLY BROADST CAREERIMMEDIATELY AFTER GRADUATG OM LLEGE, ROBERTS ED HER UNIQUE BATN OF ATHLETIC TALENT AND JOURNALISTIC SKILL TO BEE A SPORTS REPORTER AND ANCHOR FOR A LOL TV STATN MISSISSIPPI. SHE PROGRSED AND SUCCEED, MOVG EVERY YEAR OR TWO TO A LARGER CY THE SOUTH — OM HATTIBURG TO BILOXI TO NASHVILLE AND THEN ATLANTA — AS HER POPULARY AND EXPERIENCE GREW.ESPN TO 'GOOD MORNG AMERI'AT AGE 29, ROBERTS WAS HIRED BY ESPN, WHERE SHE HOSTED THE WORK'S FLAGSHIP NEWS PROGRAM, SPORTSCENTER. AROUND THIS SAME TIME, SHE BEGAN MAKG APPEARANC AS A GUT REPORTER ON GOOD MORNG AMERI, A SHOW BROADST BY ABC, A SISTER WORK OF ESPN (BOTH WORKS ARE OWNED BY THE WALT DISNEY COMPANY).IN 2005, AFTER YEARS OF NTRIBUTG TO BOTH ESPN AND GOOD MORNG AMERI, ABC HIRED ROBERTS AS A FULL-TIME -ANCHOR OF THE MORNG NEWS PROGRAM. WHEN DIANE SAWYER, THEN AN ANCHOR ON GOOD MORNG AMERI, WAS NAMED ANCHOR OF ABC WORLD NEWS, THE WORK'S NIGHTTIME NEWS PROGRAM, ROBERTS AND {-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN-THICKNS:0.0625REM;TEXT-RATN-LOR:HER;TEXT-UNRLE-OFFSET:0.25REM;LOR:#A00000;-WEBK-TRANSN:ALL 0.3S EASE--OUT;TRANSN:ALL 0.3S EASE--OUT;}{LOR:#595959;TEXT-RATN-LOR:BORR-LK-BODY-HOVER;}GEE STEPHANOPOULOS SERVED AS -ANCHORS. TOGETHER, THE TWO HELPED LEAD THE SHOW TO THE TOP OF THE PETIVE MORNG SHOW RATGS, BEATG NBC'S TODAY SHOW, WHICH HAD HELD THE NO. 1 SPOT FOR MORE THAN A .CANCER AND BONE MARROW TRANSPLANTIN AUGT 2012, ROBERTS TOOK A LEAVE OF ABSENCE OM GOOD MORNG AMERI ORR TO UNRGO TREATMENT FOR A RARE BLOOD DISORR THAT SHE NTRACTED AS A PLITN OF THE CHEMOTHERAPY SHE RECEIVED FOR BREAST NCER 2007. ROBERTS HAD A BONE MARROW TRANSPLANT SEPTEMBER. {--DATA-EMBED-DISPLAY:FLEX;-WEBK-ALIGN-EMS:CENTER;-WEBK-BOX-ALIGN:CENTER;-MS-FLEX-ALIGN:CENTER;ALIGN-EMS:CENTER;CLEAR:BOTH;DISPLAY:-WEBK-BOX;DISPLAY:-WEBK-FLEX;DISPLAY:-MS-FLEXBOX;DISPLAY:FLEX;MARG-BOTTOM:0.9375REM;MARG-LEFT:TO;MARG-RIGHT:TO;WIDTH:100%;}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 20REM){{WIDTH:100%;MARG:0 TO 0.9375REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 30REM){{WIDTH:100%;MARG:0 TO 0.9375REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 40.625REM){{WIDTH:100%;MARG:0 TO 0.9375REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 48REM){{WIDTH:100%;MARG:0 TO 0.9375REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 64REM){{WIDTH:100%;MARG:0 TO 0.9375REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 73.75REM){{WIDTH:100%;MARG:0 TO 0.9375REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 75REM){{WIDTH:100%;MARG:0 TO 0.9375REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 90REM){{WIDTH:100%;MARG:0 TO 0.9375REM;}} A SPAN{RIGHT:1REM;} IMG{WIDTH:TO;HEIGHT:85VH;} A{DISPLAY:-WEBK-LE-BOX;DISPLAY:-WEBK-LE-FLEX;DISPLAY:-MS-LE-FLEXBOX;DISPLAY:LE-FLEX;POSN:VAR(--POSN, RELATIVE);} IMG:NOT(.EWCW41W1){DISPLAY:BLOCK;WIDTH:100%;HEIGHT:TO;-WEBK-ALIGN-SELF:FLEX-START;-MS-FLEX-EM-ALIGN:FLEX-START;ALIGN-SELF:FLEX-START;}{WIDTH:100%;DISPLAY:-WEBK-LE-BOX;DISPLAY:-WEBK-LE-FLEX;DISPLAY:-MS-LE-FLEXBOX;DISPLAY:LE-FLEX;-WEBK-FLEX-DIRECTN:LUMN;-MS-FLEX-DIRECTN:LUMN;FLEX-DIRECTN:LUMN;MARG-LEFT:TO;MARG-RIGHT:TO;-WEBK-BOX-PACK:CENTER;-MS-FLEX-PACK:CENTER;-WEBK-JTIFY-NTENT:CENTER;JTIFY-NTENT:CENTER;}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 20REM){{PADDG-LEFT:0REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 30REM){{PADDG-LEFT:0REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 40.625REM){{PADDG-LEFT:0REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 48REM){{PADDG-LEFT:0REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 64REM){{PADDG-LEFT:0REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 73.75REM){{PADDG-LEFT:0REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 75REM){{PADDG-LEFT:0REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 90REM){{PADDG-LEFT:0REM;}}{WIDTH:0;M-WIDTH:100%;PADDG-TOP:0.625REM;LOR:#323232;FONT-WEIGHT:BOLD;MARG-BOTTOM:0.3125REM;FONT-FAY:CHARTER,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;FONT-SIZE:1REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.4;} EM, I{FONT-FAY:HER;FONT-STYLE:ALIC;} EM{FONT-STYLE:ALIC;FONT-FAY:CHARTERITALIC,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;}ROB {PADDG-LEFT:0REM;LE-HEIGHT:1;}PHOTO: MICHAEL LOCCISANO/GETTY IMAG FOR THE STEVE HARVEY FOUNDATN//GETTY IMAGON THE DAY SHE ANNOUNCED ON-AIR THAT SHE WAS SICK WH MYELODYSPLASTIC SYNDROME, THE WEBSE FOR BE THE MATCH, A NONPROF ANIZATN THAT KEEPS A NATNAL BONE MARROW DONATN REGISTRY, EXPERIENCED AN 1,800 PERCENT SPIKE DONORS. ROBERTS HERSELF DID NOT RELY ON THE REGISTRY, BUT RATHER ON HER SISTER, SALLY-ANN, WHO DOCTORS EMED AN EXCELLENT MATCH. NOHELS, ROBERTS ADVOTED FOR BONE MARROW DONATN VIA BE THE MATCH AND ENURAGED VIEWERS TO REGISTER.RETURN TO 'GMA'ON FEBARY 20, 2013, ROBERTS MA HER FIRST APPEARANCE ON GOOD MORNG AMERI SCE SHE HAD BEGUN TREATMENT. THE WORLD WNSED HER EMOTNAL RETURN AND HAPPY RNN WH THE GOOD MORNG AMERI STAFF. ROBERTS HELPED GOOD MORNG AMERI W S BT RATGS NUMBERS SCE THE MORNG AFTER THE PRINTIAL ELECTN NOVEMBER 2012, AS 6.1 LN VIEWERS TUNED TO SEE HER RETURN TO THE AIR. "I HAVE BEEN WAG 174 DAYS TO SAY THIS: GOOD MORNG, AMERI!" SHE SAID DURG THE SEGMENT.ROBERTS REMAS A POPULAR -HOST ON THE SHOW, ALONGSI STEPHANOPOULOS AND FORMER FOOTBALL STAR MICHAEL STRAHAN.BOOKS, AWARDS AND PERSONALTHE NEWS ANCHOR HAS THORED MULTIPLE BOOKS, CLUDG FROM THE HEART: 7 RUL TO LIVE BY AND EVERYBODY’S GOT SOMETHG.FOLLOWG HER REVERY, ROBERTS WAS HONORED AT THE 2013 ESPYS WH THE PRTIG ARTHUR ASHE COURAGE AWARD, WHICH WAS PRENTED BY BASKETBALL STAR LEBRON JAM. ADDNALLY, SHE RECEIVED THE WALTER CRONKE AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE JOURNALISM 2014 AND WAS DUCTED TO THE SPORTS BROADSTG HALL OF FAME 2016.IN EARLY JANUARY 2014, ROBERTS OFFICIALLY ME OUT AS A GAY WOMAN ON GOOD MORNG AMERI. SHE HADN'T PUBLICLY DISCSED HER SEXUAL ORIENTATN PRR TO THIS ANNOUNCEMENT. THE PUBLIC ALSO GOT TO SEE A PHOTO OF ROBERTS'S GIRLIEND, AMBER LAIGN, ON THE SHOW, FOLLOWG THE NEWS ANCHOR'S {BORR:0;BORR-BOTTOM:TH SOLID BLACK;MARG:1.875REM 0;CLEAR:BOTH;}QUICK FACTS

One day, then-Marls closer Anton Alfonse teased Gutierrez for wearg an earrg his upper ear rtilage, suatg was a gay fashn statement.

“It was not worth to me to have to fend myself when somebody who liked me, prumably, is tellg me to my face that that’s not ol, and that’s gay, ” Gutierrez said.

SKY SPORTS NEWS PRENTER OUT AS GAY

Each day, whether ’s on the ESPN airwav or his social media feed, Gutierrez normaliz beg gay sports, and simply the world. Gutierrez is unapologetilly gay, and proud. “Hearg a man say ‘boyiend’ or ‘partner’ or ‘hband’ or terjectg a gay joke where they weren’t expectg , or a gay sex joke.

Four years ago this month, after former NFL leman Ryan O’Callaghan revealed on that he had planned to take his own life after profsnal football, a rult of O’Callaghan livg life as a closeted gay man, I hosted a roundtable on Sports Illtrated’s webse wh seven openly LGBTQ+ sports media members.

There’s so much unrstandg that almost baffl me, wh how many of the old misnceptns about gay people seem to have erod all an historic whoosh. If we follow where the news and the natnal bat are leadg, ’s verg transgenr human begs that reporters are gog to need the stctn, the unrstandg and the sight gog I am gog to take this and tie to somethg specific to my beat, and I’m gog to e a recent example: At a media day buildg up his most recent fight, the UFC’s Donald Cerrone ma an ference that his opponent and opponent’s ach were havg a gay relatnship, and the assembled media hooted and hollered like they were at Friday night at the Lgh Factory.

TEXAS JUDGE WHO DON’T WANT TO PERFORM GAY MARRIAGE CEREMONI HOP WEB SIGNER’S SUPREME COURT SE HELPS HER FIGHT

Compoundg matters, several outlets simply ran wh Cerrone’s ments as jt part of the story, as if sual homophobia is another piece of harmls trash talk.

Reporters: You wouldn’t have lghed if an out, gay person was the room, so why did you do when there wasn’t? You n te rears about what life is like for all typ of people whether gay, lbian, trans, non-bary. (Ned Dishman / NBAE via Getty Imag)I asked each of you this four years ago: “Do you thk viewers/listeners/rears re that you’re gay, posive or negative, and why?