In response to claims that he had a sex fling with his 80s wrestling colleague Brutus Beefcake, Hulk Hogan has filed a defamation suit against his ex-wife Linda—and come out as heterosexual (though if he was gay, he would totally embrace it). 

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.

Until man-on-man action on a soccer/football field doesn't carry with it a lengthy-prison sentence and/or lashings, we'll have to live with the fact that the only same-sex tongue jockeying we're going to see played by professional athletes is in the virtual world. Check out a nice little nugget the makers of the FIFA 12 video game tossed gay players, after the jump.

The worst-kept secret in the NFL has come out of the closet: via a press release, it's been confirmed that Madonna is the Super Bowl XLVI Halftime headliner.

Oh to be amongst school yard bullies again! To every kid who was picked last in gym class because he was more "feminine" than the other boys, this goes out to you! Details after the jump.

Setting up the field for future American athletes to come-out, the MLB will reportedly follow the NFL by adding "sexual orientation" to its collective bargaining agreement's non-discrimination policy.

Updated 4:00 p.m. (EST) with video (after the jump)

Big news from the sports world today where former Columbus Crew teammate David Testo becomes the first Major League Soccer player to come out as gay. Details and word of the potential impact in American sports, follow.

Updated Friday, 4:20 p.m. (PST)

Are people nuts?! Not only are the footballers receiving a $40,000 fine but Judge Valiollah Hosseini told the news agency that “the punishment of this crime is prison up to two months and 74 lashes.”

So disgusting. How long can a country continue to treat its citizens like this and get away with it?

(Source)

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A lost-in-the-moment celebratory butt grab deemed "immoral" by Iranian authorities has lead to the suspension of two athletes on the country's professional football team. Details follow.

In response to being charged with years of homophobia on part of his fighters (and even himself), Ultimate Fighting Championship President Dana White has called on UFC personalities to come out.

Wales marks another pro gay athlete milestone with a cheerful announcement from the captain of pro-rugby team the OLD Redcliffians. Details follow.

Focus on the Family poster-boy Tim Tebow was so pumped about his win against the Miami Dolphins on Sunday that the Broncos quarterback apparently forgot about his whole queasiness with man-on-man action. Details follow.

Hockey star Gus Johnston (of Australia's Victoria team) makes history for the country by coming out in a poignant and piercing video blog titled "The Reality of Homophobia In Sport."