Greatest LGBT Athletes

Darkanian should follow the example set by these players.

The Entourage: The Athlete's Other Team - There's a team that most star athletes have other than the one they play for — and that would be their entourage (although in Darkanian's case, he also plays for the "other" team, but we digress). Check out these other great athlete entourages that have made noise for not only their sports leader but for having a reputation of their own.   (Photo: BET)

1 / 12

Darkanian - Last season, Crystal was in for the surprise of a lifetime when she learned that the guy she thought was interested in her, Darkanian, was actually dating men. To make things more interesting, Darkanian is a professional football player with a whole lot to lose if the world were to find out about his sexuality. We decided to take a look back at other LGBT athletes who have had a similar struggle who ultimately came out. (Photo: BET)

Jason Collins - Drafted along with his brother Jarron in 2001, Jason is the most recent (perhaps the most prominent) athlete in any of the major leagues to come out about his sexuality. His candid article in Sports Illustrated's May 6, 2013, issue explains his struggle, why he held back on coming out and ultimately what he hopes will happen now that he has.  (Photo: AP Photo/Michael Dwyer, File)

2 / 12

Jason Collins - Drafted along with his brother Jarron in 2001, Jason is the most recent (perhaps the most prominent) athlete in any of the major leagues to come out about his sexuality. His candid article in Sports Illustrated's May 6, 2013, issue explains his struggle, why he held back on coming out and ultimately what he hopes will happen now that he has. (Photo: AP Photo/Michael Dwyer, File)

Wade Davis - Wade Davis played for the Tennessee Titans and also played in preseason games for the Seattle Seahawks and the Washington Redskins. In 2012, Davis came out and began writing about the struggles of gay men in the NFL.(Photo: NFL / AP)

3 / 12

Wade Davis - Wade Davis played for the Tennessee Titans and also played in preseason games for the Seattle Seahawks and the Washington Redskins. In 2012, Davis came out and began writing about the struggles of gay men in the NFL.(Photo: NFL / AP)

Martina Navratilova - Martina Navratilova is a former Grand Slam Tennis champion from Czechoslovakia. Martina came out in the beginning of her tennis career and has since been an advocate for gay rights in sports and the world.(Photo: Morne de Klerk/Getty Images)

4 / 12

Martina Navratilova - Martina Navratilova is a former Grand Slam Tennis champion from Czechoslovakia. Martina came out in the beginning of her tennis career and has since been an advocate for gay rights in sports and the world.(Photo: Morne de Klerk/Getty Images)

Photo By Photo: Morne de Klerk/Getty Images

Joshua Dixon - Joshua Dixon is a gymnast from Stanford University who competed in the 2012 Olympics in London as an openly gay male after he came out the spring before the games. (Photo: CSM /Landov)

5 / 12

Joshua Dixon - Joshua Dixon is a gymnast from Stanford University who competed in the 2012 Olympics in London as an openly gay male after he came out the spring before the games. (Photo: CSM /Landov)

Photo By Photo: CSM /Landov

ADVERTISEMENT
Robbie Rogers - Robbie Rogers of the Columbus Crew came out as gay earlier this year. Rogers has played for the US National Soccer Team and came out in an open letter, quitting the game.(Photo: Jamie Sabau/Getty Images)

6 / 12

Robbie Rogers - Robbie Rogers of the Columbus Crew came out as gay earlier this year. Rogers has played for the US National Soccer Team and came out in an open letter, quitting the game.(Photo: Jamie Sabau/Getty Images)

Seimone Augustus - Minnesota Lynx guard Seimone Augustus is one of the best players in the WNBA and she is also openly gay and engaged to a woman. (Photo: CSM /Landov)

7 / 12

Seimone Augustus - Minnesota Lynx guard Seimone Augustus is one of the best players in the WNBA and she is also openly gay and engaged to a woman. (Photo: CSM /Landov)

Orlando Cruz - Orlando Cruz is boxing's first openly gay fighter and won a fight two weeks after coming out. The Puerto Rican fighter is 18-2 and has received the support of boxer Miguel Cotto.(Photo: Handout from EMC Events)

8 / 12

Orlando Cruz - Orlando Cruz is boxing's first openly gay fighter and won a fight two weeks after coming out. The Puerto Rican fighter is 18-2 and has received the support of boxer Miguel Cotto.(Photo: Handout from EMC Events)

Photo By Photo: Handout from EMC Events

John Amaechi - Former NBA player John Amaechi came out after retiring from the NBA in 2007. Since then, the British bred Amaechi has been an advocate and spokesman for gay rights.(Photo: Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)

9 / 12

John Amaechi - Former NBA player John Amaechi came out after retiring from the NBA in 2007. Since then, the British bred Amaechi has been an advocate and spokesman for gay rights.(Photo: Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)

Liz Carmouche - Liz Carmouche is a mixed martial arts fighter who has a record of nine wins and three losses and is the No. 6 ranked woman in her weight class. She is also openly lesbian.(Photo: Jim Kemper/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)

10 / 12

Liz Carmouche - Liz Carmouche is a mixed martial arts fighter who has a record of nine wins and three losses and is the No. 6 ranked woman in her weight class. She is also openly lesbian.(Photo: Jim Kemper/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)

Photo By Photo: Jim Kemper/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images

ADVERTISEMENT
Jessica Aguilar - Jessica Aguilar is a Mexican mixed martial arts fighter who is ranked as the No. 2 pound for pound fighter in the world. She came out as bisexual in an issue of Sports Illustrated. (Photo: Courtesy of Jessica Aguilar)

11 / 12

Jessica Aguilar - Jessica Aguilar is a Mexican mixed martial arts fighter who is ranked as the No. 2 pound for pound fighter in the world. She came out as bisexual in an issue of Sports Illustrated. (Photo: Courtesy of Jessica Aguilar)

Photo By Photo: Courtesy of Jessica Aguilar

Lori Lindsey - Lori Lindsey, who plays for the New York Flash and the US Women's Soccer team, came out to her parents over drinks at Applebee's and later told the world. (Photo: The Republican /Landov)

12 / 12

Lori Lindsey - Lori Lindsey, who plays for the New York Flash and the US Women's Soccer team, came out to her parents over drinks at Applebee's and later told the world. (Photo: The Republican /Landov)