Updated with video after the break, 1:35 p.m. est

At the end of a major press conference that wrapped up moments ago, President Obama came back to the microphone for an encore of sorts to bring up his support for Jason Collins. Calling him a role model for LGBT youth who are struggling, and a sign of increasing recognition in America, President Obama practically gushed about the country's first openly gay active player in a major sport. 

Check out the president's full statement on Jason Collins after the jump.

Arn Tellem, a sports agent who reps openly gay NBA player Jason Collins, calls the athlete "inspiring" and gives us a behind-the-scenes look at the historic coming out. 

The Denver Nuggets power forward who last month joined his two moms in a video message demanding civil unions in Colorado has become the first NBA star to join the LGBT-affirmative Athlete Ally. 

...yes, the same Kobe Bryant who was punished for calling a ref a "faggot" in 2011!

In an interview with TMZ, Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban says he fully expects the NBA to have an openly-gay basketball player within the next "three to five years." More, after the jump. 

In the foot cleat steps of the NFL and MLB, the NBA has announced that it will officially protect gay players from discrimination based on their sexual orientation. Details follow.

Or is Twitter just that unhelpful? After the jump, get the details of a Twitter announcement made by one NBA player's account that is having many wonder, "finally?"

It's that time of year again when ESPN readers appreciate the male body as much as Instinct readers (okay, maybe we will always appreciate these Adonis' a teensy bit more). After the jump check out the another cover and another shot that feature hot male jocks.

It's only been four short months since he shattered stereotypes by coming out of the closet, but now Rick Welts is resigning after referring to his job as the best in the world. So why is he leaving? Details after the jump.

I might not be able to wrap my head around the concept of "ex-gay," (see previous post) but I can certainly wrap my mind around "ex-homophobe." Tim Hardaway, the former NBA star who made homo headlines in 2007 when he professed his literal hatred of gay people on national radio, is now a vocal supporter of international LGBT rights. 

In its July 25th issue, Star Magazine (via a story published in its online outpost RadarOnline on Wednesday) alleged that Chris Brown erupted in yet another anti-gay tirade. Today, Chris Brown and his publicist are lashing out against Star for what they say are false claims.