Tennis icon Martina Navratilova, who famously came out as gay back in 1981, spoke with MSNBC's Melissa Harris-Perry regarding the importance of Jason Collins' coming out announcement and why "it will save lives."

Check out what she had to say after the jump!

It looks like British pro-soccer player Robbie Rogers, who famously came out as gay and simultaneously retired from the sport back in February, may be making his return to the field! 

More 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. 

America, we've got our guy!

NBA Center and current free agent Jason Collins has penned an extremely moving coming out editorial for Sports Illustrated that will be examined by future civilizations for millennia to come. In a moment that is nothing short of historic, Jason becomes America's first openly gay athlete who currently plays in one of the nation's five major pro sports.

Former Arizona Cardinals player Kerry Rhodes (and certified hottie) was quite graceful last week when he politely shot down rumors of his homosexuality. 

Well, he may need to show even more grace now that the man he was photographed with (and prodded by TMZ about)  is claiming that the two were in love and in a romantic relationship.

More after the jump. 

The first professional gay athlete in a major U.S. sport is going to cash in in a big way—at least according to former Phoenix Suns executive Rick Welts.

Welts, who came out as gay in 2011 and was an Instinct Leading Man that same year, spoke with Nike who asked him to pass along a message: they want to endorse the first out gay athlete in major pro sports!

More after the jump.

Is a gay NFL player on his way out of the closet?

A CBS Sports columnist claims it could be happening in the next few months!

Details after the jump.

Former Major League Baseball player Mark Knudson has written what's sure to be a controversial op-ed piece encouraging gay athletes to stay in the closet because it's "what's best for the team."

We'll let Knudson speak for himself after the jump.

The final part of a two-episode arc on USA's Necessary Roughness sees a professional quarterback come out of the closet tonight to the love and support of his team. Is this how it will look when* (*when, not if!) the NFL gets its first openly gay player?

Minnesota Viking and equality advocate Chris Kluwe thinks so. 

The Los Angeles Times' Kenneth Baker recently wrote a piece highlighting the "unwelcoming" atmosphere for gay athletes in professional sports. 

While some athletes like Chris Kluwe and Brendon Ayanbadejo have been awesomely vocal in their support of the gay community and potential gay teammates, there are still others, like Detroit Tigers outfielder Torii Hunter, that acknowledge their own difficulties with having to play alongside someone who's gay. 

More after the jump. 

Instinct reader Kate sent us a link to transgender blogger, Biko Beauttah's blog, Lamutamu. It turns out Biko is a huge fan of Canadian football team, the Toronto Argonauts, and specifically Argonauts teammember Mike Bradwell (pictured).

She's got even more reason to be a fan now as Bradwell and his super hot teammate, Joe Eppele are speaking out against homophobia in an interview with an LGBT news organization.

Check out the video after the jump!

After taking a look at the medals awarded to the handful of out athletes throughout history, it looks like the answer is "yes." As it turns out, over half of all gay Olympians have won medals, far surpassing the medal ratios of the unfortunate non-gays. 

Details follow.