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.

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.

If all professional athletes automatically had to start working part-time as "erotic models" when funds were tight, we'd be advocating for pay cuts across the board!

Until then, Stuart Tomlinson will do just fine!

Huff Po introduced us to Tomlinson, the goalie for British professional soccer team Burton Albion, who works part-time as a model willing to pose nude. He apparently goes by the alias "Rupert Paddington Gomez." 

We'll allow it.

See some of his "portfolio" after the jump!

Noah Syndergaard, a new acquisition for the New York Mets, is getting his MLB career in the lower 48 started on the wrong foot after tweeting an anti-gay slur. Details follow. 

Is Major League Soccer leading the charge in holding professional athletes accountable for homophobic behavior?

The blog Grantland makes the case that the league's swift responses and punishments levied against players that use homophobic slurs sets it apart form other professional sports  leagues.

They also have a theory as to why MLS is so adamant about presenting a pro-gay tone.

More after the jump. 

Wow. This is pretty huge!

GLAAD announced today that the six most prominent major sports leagues will all "go purple" for Spirit Day on Friday, Oct.19.

Spirit Day takes a stand against bullying and shows support for LGBT Youth.

More after the jump. 

With gay rights, homophobia, and coming out seemingly becoming a topic of conversation in every professional sport, ESPN magazine took the opportunity to gauge where the four major pro sports in the US individually stand on the issue of marriage equality.

The results may surprise you. Find out what they uncovered after the jump!

Football player Chris Kluwe—who may have emerged as the real winner of the push to sanction Brendon Ayanbadejo for LGBT tolerance earlier this month—continues to leave us swooning for his allegiance in an articulate and heartfelt column for TwinCities.com

So, how does parenthood increase his passion in the fight for LGBT equality?

Facing reports of an unidentified professional soccer player who wants to come out of the closet but fears his safety, German Chancellor Angela Merkel spoke out on Thursday to let them know they "must not be afraid."

The NBA has aggressively paved the way for America's first openly gay pro sports star by becoming the only league so far to participate in GLAAD and Athlete Ally's LGBT training program. 

Minnesota Viking (that's football, we hear) Chris Kluwe has become the latest professional athlete to publicly support marriage equality. Check out Kluwe's radio spot, after the jump!

GLAAD today announced a partnership with Hudson Taylor's Athlete Ally that will see the two organizations educating all 141 major league sports teams about LGBT tolerance and inclusion. Details follow.