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June 2, 2013
Center for NBA's Indiana Pacers in trouble for 'no homo' comment in press conference

Center Roy Hibbert reaches out to Jason Collins on Twitter for the anti-gay comment made after Game 6 of the NBA Eastern Conference Finals

Roy Hibbert, center for the NBA's Indiana Pacers, is in hot water for an anti-gay slur used in a press conference yesterday (1 June).

Hibbert's team had jut won Game 6 in their 7-game-series against LeBron James and the Miami Heat. A reporter asked Hibbert, a Georgetown University graduate, about his defense on James during a crucial part of the game.

May 31, 2013
Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban wants to end homophopbia in NBA and all sports

'It’s a new world. Everyone should know that they can be themselves in sports'

Mark Cuban, the billionaire owner of the NBA team the Dallas Mavericks, is the latest high-profile name to join the effort of Athlete Ally.

The group, founded by straight wrestler Hudson Taylor, announced today that Cuban has joined the advisory board of the organization dedicated to fighting homophobia in sports and in general.

May 28, 2013
Lesbian player Brittney Griner makes history in her pro basketball debut

Becomes the first WNBA player in history to dunk twice in one game

Brittany Griner made a historic WNBA debut on Monday (27 May) becoming the first player in the pro league's history to make two slam dunks in a single game.

Griner came out publicly as a lesbian in April, a month before Jason Collins became the first active NBA player to come out publicly as gay.

The 22-year-old Griner plays for the Phoenix Mercury and was the number one pick in this year's WNBA draft.

May 8, 2013
Retired NBA star Charles Barkley says he 'of course' played with gay players

'It’s an insult to gay people to think that they’re trying to pick up on their teammates'

Retired NBA star Charles Barkley said Tuesday (7 May) that he played alongside  at least three or four gay teammates during his career and that it was 'no big deal.'

'Of course I did. Everybody did. Everybody played with a gay teammate,' Barkley said on The Dan Patrick Show.

May 2, 2013
A gay dad challenges Mike Huckabee to shoot some hoops

NBA star Jason Collins coming out has inspired the competitive sportsman languishing in one dad and he’s chosen his opponent, anti-gay marathon man Mike Huckabee

I have a confession to make. As much as I loathe clichés and generalizations, there is one that I live up to with incredible gusto. I typify the gay guy who doesn’t do sports. Not even a little bit.

From the pains of never getting picked for teams in PE to the days of racking up huge Trivial Pursuit momentum only to be demolished by the final Orange pie question (for those too young for the original Trivial Pursuit, that was the ‘sports’ category), I am the ultimate sports loser.

April 29, 2013
US sport first: NBA giant Jason Collins comes out as gay

Basketball star Jason Collins has become the first openly gay athlete to continue playing professionally in a major US team sport

Basketball player Jason Collins has come out as gay, becoming the first openly gay athlete in a major US team sport.

The seven foot tall 34-year-old, who plays center for the Washington Wizards, has come out in an article for Sports Illustrated.

He said: ‘I wish I wasn’t the kid in the classroom raising his hand and saying, “I’m different."

‘If I had my way, someone else would have already done this.

April 19, 2013
Basketball star Brittney Griner comes out as gay

The star of women’s basketball in America has come out as gay

Basketball superstar Brittney Griner has decided to acknoweledge her sexuality for the first time in public.

In a group interview with Sports Illustrated yesterday (18 April), the 22-year-old discussed her sexuality and her ambition to help younger members of the LGBT community. 

She said: ‘If I can show that I’m out and I’m fine and everything’s ok, then hopefully the younger generation will definitely feel the same way.’

During the interview the 6’8 pro-basketball player voiced her personal advice to young fans.

February 11, 2013
NBA superstar Kobe Bryant takes stand against homophobia on Twitter

LA Lakers forward had hurled gay slur during game in 2011

It was only back in 2011 that Lakers star Kobe Bryant called a referee a 'faggot' during the heat of a basketball game.

With Bryant being one of the biggest names in the National Basketball Association, the criticism was swift and he delivered the expected apology.

Over the weekend, Bryant took things a step further without any prodding.

In the middle of a Twitter exchange, Bryant told a fan to stop using 'you're gay' as an insult.

October 18, 2012
Major US sports leagues and celebs to go purple in show of support for LGBT youth

This week's Spirit Day to combat bullying getting unprecedented support

Just two years after the first Spirit Day took place, unprecedented support from the worlds of sports and entertainment is shaping up for the day to 'go purple' as a statement against LGBT bullying.

Observance of the day is on Friday (19 October) and participating will be the National Basketball Association (NBA) / Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA), the National Football League (NFL), the National Hockey League (NHL), Major League Baseball (MLB), Major League Soccer (MLS) and NASCAR's diversity program.

October 13, 2012
The rewards and risks for a NBA player to be out of the closet

Is coming out even worth the risk for a player in the National Basketball League?

This past Thursday (11 Oct) was National Coming Out Day in the US. ESPN, an international sports media corporation, published an essay  listing the hazards a National Basketball League athlete would face if he announced he were gay.

August 16, 2012
Gay basketball star to offer advice at taster session

Former NBA player John Amaechi will offer his expertise to budding basketball players at the London Cruisers' free taster session on Friday

Former NBA player John Amaechi will offer his expertise to budding basketball players at the London Cruisers' free taster session as part of Out for Sport week on Friday.

The gay Commonwealth bronze medalist will be on hand at the team’s free taster session to offer training tips and advice.

May 14, 2012
Trans woman asks Kardashian to pay $150,000 for alleged assault

Khloe Kardashian offered out of court settlement by a trans woman who claims US reality star beat her up outside a nightclub in LA

A transgender woman suing Khloe Kardashian for assault says she will drop the lawsuit if the US reality TV star pays her $150,000.

Chantal Spears sued Kardashian last December, accusing her of pushing her outside the Playhouse nightclub in Hollywood, LA , two years ago.

However, Spears, also known as Ronald Spears, has now offered to settle the case out of court, but only if Kardashian coughs up $150,000 for ‘mental and emotional anxiety’.

February 28, 2012
John Amaechi to open Amnesty exhibition

Discrimination through a lens at Amnesty International exhibition in Croatia

Former NBA basketball player John Amaechi will open an anti-discrimination photo exhibition in Croatia.

Yes to Diversity, No to Discrimination will feature photographs celebrating diversity across Europe and is the conclusion of a Europe-wide competition by human rights group Amnesty International.

February 3, 2012
Kardashian: trans assault was 'self-defense'

Khloe Kardashian says her actions were 'reasonably necessary' during fight with transgender woman

Khloe Kardashian has spoken for the first time about her alleged assault of a transgender woman, claiming she acted in self-defense.

The US reality TV star has filed a response to the L.A. County Superior Court claiming that trans woman Chantal Spears had provoked the assault, reported celebrity gossip website TMZ.

She added that her actions were 'reasonably necessary for her self-defense and safety.'