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10 Current, Former Athletes We Didn’t Know Were Gay

Current, Former LGBT Athletes From Various Sports

Current Former Gay Athletes
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We now live in a time where athletes are not as scared to come out. Some even feel it is part of their duty to help younger LGBT athletes realize they can dream big and have role models to look up to. Some people are against it, and some do not care. The bottom line is that players' sexuality doesn't affect their ability on the field. As proof, here are 10 outstanding athletes who have come out.

10. Johnny Weir

Johnny Weir Gay Athletes
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10. Johnny Weir

Johnny Weir Gay Athletes

Johnny Weir is an American figure skater who has medaled various times. Although many questioned his sexual orientation, Weir did not talk about it early in his career; until 2011 when he came out in his memoir.

9. Billie Jean King

Billie Jean King Gay Athletes
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9. Billie Jean King

Billie Jean King Gay Athletes

Billie Jean King is a former American tennis player who won many titles and was considered the World's No. 1 tennis player for five years. She was married to Larry King until 1987, but was outed against her discretion in 1981.

8. Esera Tuaolo

Esera Tuaolo Gay Athletes
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8. Esera Tuaolo

Esera Tuaolo Gay Athletes

Esera Tuaolo is a former NFL defensive tackle who had played for the Atlanta Falcons and Carolina Panthers. He won the 1989 Morris Trophy Award that is given to the top college defensive lineman in the Pac-12 Conference. He announced he was gay in the 2002 HBO Special "Real Sports."

7. Megan Rapinoe

Megan Rapinoe Gay Athletes
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7. Megan Rapinoe

Megan Rapinoe Gay Athletes

Megan Rapinoe is a current midfielder for the USWNT and Seattle Reign FC. She was a starter for the USWNT when it lost the cup to Japan during penalty kicks. She came out in "Out" magazine in 2012.

6. Orlando Cruz

Orlando Cruz Gay Athletes
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6. Orlando Cruz

Orlando Cruz Gay Athletes

Orlando Cruz is a current Puerto Rican, professional featherweight boxer who is ranked No. 4 among featherweights by the World Boxing Organization. When coming out in 2012, Cruz stated he's a proud Puerto Rican and a proud gay man; he is now seen boxing in rainbow-flag trunks.

5. John Amaechi

John Amaechi Gay Athletes
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5. John Amaechi

John Amaechi Gay Athletes

John Amaechi is an English retired NBA center-power-forward who had played for teams like the Utah Jazz and Orlando Magic. Amaechi retired in 2007, and four years after retiring, was the first former NBA player to come out.

4. Michael Sam

Michael Sam Gay Athletes
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4. Michael Sam

Michael Sam Gay Athletes

Michael Sam is an American football defensive end who formerly played for Missouri Tigers. If he is signed by the NFL, he will become the first active openly-gay NFL player. Sam came out in Feb. 2014 during an interview with Chris Connelly on ESPN's Outside the Lines; he became the first publicly out college football player as well.

3. Tom Daley

Tom Daley Gay Athletes
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3. Tom Daley

Tom Daley Gay Athletes

Tom Daley is a 19-year-old British Olympic diver who has won various medals. In December 2013, Daley came out to the world via a YouTube video.

2. Robbie Rogers

Robbie Rogers Gay Athletes
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2. Robbie Rogers

Robbie Rogers Gay Athletes

Robbie Rogers is an American midfielder who currently plays for the Los Angeles Galaxy. He came out by writing a post on his website on Feb. 13 and retired from playing. Later on, he agreed to return to MLS only if he could join Los Angeles in order to stay close to family, and luckily the team was able to accommodate him.

1. Jason Collins

Jason Collins Gay Athletes
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1. Jason Collins

Jason Collins Gay Athletes

Jason Collins is a current center for the Brooklyn Nets. In May 2013, he came out in an issue of Sports Illustrated. Like Robbie Rogers, Collins stopped playing only to be later signed to the Nets. His Nets' jersey became the top seller on the NBA online store.

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