WNBA super-star Sheryl Swoopes admits she's a lesbian in ESPN The Magazine. It's being reported in mainstream media as well. I'm more surprised with some of her comments, not her coming out:
Swoopes, honored last month as the WNBA's Most Valuable Player, told ESPN The Magazine for a story on newsstands Wednesday that she didn't always know she was gay and fears that coming out could jeopardize her status as a role model.
"Do I think I was born this way? No," Swoopes said. "And that's probably confusing to some, because I know a lot of people believe that you are."
Swoopes, who was married and has an 8-year-old son, said her 1999 divorce "wasn't because I'm gay."
She said her reason for coming out now is merely because she wants to be honest.
I don't honestly think this will impact her endorsement deals. But maybe I'm naive. Of course, she'll become the target of homophobes and rightists. Let's see how she -- AND THE LEAGUES -- respond/react.
Posted by ronn at October 26, 2005 10:17 AM