This hopeful German short film chronicles the life of a fictitious gay soccer player and the high cost of living in the closet...for everyone

This football-related ad shows how far society has come in accepting the LGBT

Moving: Michael Sams accepts the ESPY Arthur Ashe Courage Award for coming out as a gay football player

Pro basketball player Jason Collins talks about the power of saying he is gay for the first time

Youtube announces a major initiative, #ProudToPlay, to speed up the acceptance of LGBT athletes in sports. Another sign of the times...

The pro-gay athlete group "You Can Play" is changing America for the better

These star Spanish players kiss after a recent victory causing a controversy. Same-sex male kissing seems to be society's edge

These Spanish soccer players sent tongues wagging when they kissed after a goal in a championship game.  I doubt that two gay soccer players would kiss on the field as a way of coming out; these boys are probably straight and don't adhere to the conventional belief that men should not be affectionate with other another.

Same sex kissing seems to be the new frontier for LGBT acceptance. While most Americans are ready to accept openly gay athletes, the majority felt that it was inappropriate for the networks to show Michael Sam kissing his boyfriend on Saturday.  Obviously, we have a ways to go before we are full members of society.

Majorities of Democrats (80 percent) and independents (56 percent), as well as a plurality of Republicans (42 percent), said they're ready to cheer on their teams with openly gay players. 

But although most Americans approve of gay players in theory, many are less comfortable with the reality. Male athletes kissing their wives or girlfriends is routine territory for networks covering victory and other sporting celebrations, but coverage of Sam's kissing his boyfriend after he was drafted has generated controversy. Forty-seven percent in the new poll said it was "inappropriate" for networks to show the kiss, while only 36 percent said it was "appropriate." Seventeen percent said they weren't sure.

We are everywhere: Michael Sam delivers that message in his commercial for Visa

Amen! The citadel of Catholic higher education in America, Notre Dame, welcomes LGBT athletes

My alma matter, University of Wisconsin - Madison says "you can play" to LGBT athletes. I'm even prouder to be a Badger!

Quote of the day, on being true to yourself

"Don't wait. Take advantage of everything that you have in front of you. Don’t wait because you’re scared. Don’t wait until you’re 35 or 40 years old and done playing the sport that you love. Because it’s stressful to live that way. I cried most of the nights when I was in the closet just because it starts to take a toll on you just because you’re worried about how people are going to think about you and what they’re going to say about you. Take advantage of it now. It’s going to make your life so much easier." 

-- UMASS basketball player Derrick Gordon,

1500 UMASS students stand up for their basketball star Derrick Gordon as the Westboro Baptist Church brings their hatred to campus

Guts & pride are all part of Derrick Gordon, the first openly gay male athlete in NCAA Division 1 sports

Ger Brennan, captain of the St. Vincent’s All Ireland club football team, thanks his team’s girlfriends AND boyfriends for their support during their championship tournament

The world is changing...and fast.

Photo of the day

Track coach Micah Porter from D'Evelyn High School, near Denver, Colorado, with his team.  (Via Outsports.com)

Check out this video conversation with these two pioneering "out" gay high school coaches, who are both good men

More love: Jason Collins gets a standing ovation in Brooklyn as he makes his debut in New York City

Pure grace: Jason Collins meets with Matthew Shepard's parents after last night's game. He wears #98 in honor of Matt

Quote of the day, by Deion Sanders

"I don't nor do I condemn, but I've had a friend, family members... Everyone out there, you've had someone of homosexuality in your family — and someone whose on drugs and alcohol. How can I judge them? It's up to me to give him love, to give him support, to just be there for him. So I don't condone nor I condemn. But I'm gonna love him. Everybody in the NFL is always talking about football as a family but when you have the opportunity to really extend and show them that you're a family member, this is the opportunity. He's not the first gay guy in the NFL! He's the first one to come out, let's get that straight. Every team I've played on, there was someone...we always knew. But he was cool. That was our boy. We had to look out for him. Every team I've played on - five different teams - there was someone gay in the locker room."

-- Deion Sanders

This high school coach talks about "having the best season of his life" after coming out. Beautiful and inspiring!

Read this first-person account by Saunders High School boys basketball coach Anthony Nicodemo: 

There are two parts of the season that I despise. The first comes in the late autumn when I have to make cuts. Telling kids that they're not quite good enough to make the team can be gut-wrenching as the potential players' dreams are crushed.

The second comes at the end of the season. Entering the locker room after the final loss can be extremely emotional. A team that has worked hard for the past 10 months has to say goodbye. Hours of effort and bonding ends in seconds, and as coaches we often wonder what went wrong.

This season ended with a 54-51 loss in a great high school basketball game. As I entered the classroom to address the team for the final time I knew that it would be difficult to keep my emotions in check. This was the team that I came out to and who supported me all year. They wore Nike's gay-themed #BETRUE shirts in warmups. They finished 13-5 and went undefeated in the league. I thanked them for their effort and for providing me with the most enjoyable season of my career. With my voice cracking, I told them I loved them. They slowly trickled out to move on with their lives, with hugs and tears exchanged.

The end of the season is so definitive. Months of the same routine end suddenly, and it usually takes a few days to accept the inevitable. You never enter a game expecting to lose, so when that final horn sounds, it can send you into a major funk.

My journey over the past eight months has made me a better coach. I am more relaxed and secure in everything I do. When I attend an LGBT function or visit a gay bar, I do not look over my shoulder. Friends no longer attempt to match me with their sister or their wives' friends. I am longer expected to comment on the attractiveness of females when with my buddies. 

The feeling of being free carries onto the court on a daily basis. Being stress-free has allowed me to better communicate with my players and run better practice sessions. My quality of life has improved, and in turn so has my performance as a coach and educator.In sports we so often equate success with wins and losses. 

This year I felt that the journey was so much more than just basketball for both myself and my players. I watched them deal with national media, and they were stellar in their representation of the community. Their evolution was remarkable. In April, when Jason Collins came out (two months prior to my own coming out) I asked how they would feel if a teammate had announced the he was gay. Several said they would be very uncomfortable, stirring my own fears of coming out. The same players now wear #BETRUE shirts to school. 

Read the entire article at Outsports.