Why There Few Openly Gay Athlet In Men's Profsnal Sports : NPR

Contents:

• A BRIEF HISTORY OF GAY ATHLET SPORTS
• WHY THERE ARE FEW OPENLY GAY ATHLET IN MEN'S PROFSNAL SPORTS
• A BRIEF HISTORY OF OPENLY GAY OLYMPIANS

A BRIEF HISTORY OF GAY ATHLET SPORTS

In 1976, Wadll and his partner Charl Deaton are the first gay men to be featured the "Coupl" sectn of People magaze. Five years later, Wadll forms San Francis Arts and Athletics to plan the first "Gay Olympic Gam. Kg is currently preparg to lnch her own Billie Jean Foundatn that will support gay and lbian youths.

In 1989, he reveals his homosexualy to the bodybuildg muny durg an terview wh Ironman magaze. Gallagher says that before his suici attempt, he had bee unable to rencile his image of himself as an athlete wh gay urg. Smh never acknowledged that he was gay, but David Kopay's tobgraphy, Smh was scribed as his first love.

WHY THERE ARE FEW OPENLY GAY ATHLET IN MEN'S PROFSNAL SPORTS

Bce Hay, an Olympic swimmer who won a gold medal 1984 as a member of the 800-meter etyle relay, out publicly at the Gay Gam and ws seven gold medals petn.

A BRIEF HISTORY OF OPENLY GAY OLYMPIANS

Roy Simmons, an offensive guard for the New York Giants and the Washgton Redsks om 1979-83, reveals he is gay durg an appearance on The Phil Donahue Show. Durg the same terview which he adms his homosexualy, Burke says he believ he was trad om the Dodgers bee management spected his was gay. Greg Louganis, four-time Olympic gold medalist divg who be HIV-posive, out public at the Gay Gam.

Rudy Galdo, the natnal men's skatg champn, discs beg a gay man the book Insi Edge: A Revealg Journey Into the Secret World of Figure Skatg. Prre claims that he was huiated wh gay-bashg remarks, harassed and threatened wh sexual asslt. Greg Louganis, a special Goodwill Gam edn of New York 1 News' nightly sports program, says that several athlet profsnal team sports have asked him for advice about gog public wh their homosexualy.