2011's Biggest Gay sports moments

It was a big year for gay sports in 2011. We witnessed high profile people coming out of the closet, players getting fined for using gay slurs, and entire teams standing up against LGBT bullying. This is our recap of the most significant gay sports moments of 2011. 

1. Kobe Bryant gets fined $100k for using the word "faggot." Sure, many players used words like "fag" and "faggot" during games, but the NBA finally took a stand in 2011 by slapping Kobe Bryant with a six-figure fine. Bryant initially claimed that people were being overly sensitive, fans and the media harshly criticized the player  within 48 hours of the incident, causing Bryant to change his tune. His high profile combined with the amount of the fine sent shockwaves through the sports industry. A few weeks later, Chicago Bull Joakim Noah was fined $50k for using the same word. The NBA has made it clear this year that they will not tolerate LGBT slurs.
2. San Francisco giants become 1st pro team to release an 'It Gets Better' video in support of LGBT youth. San Francisco activist, Sean Chapin, created a petition urging the SF Giants to create an It Gets Better Video in support of LGBT youth. When the petition received over 5,000 signatures, the SF Giants announced that they would be stepping up to be the first national sports team to participate in the It Gets Better project. The video premiered on June 1st, and received national media coverage.
3. Major League Baseball (MLB) adds sexual orientation to their non-discrimination policy. The  new language in the agreement will also allow athletes to transfer pensions and offer benefits to their same-sex partners, a major milestone for the LGBT community. The National Football League (NFL) took similar steps in September by including sexual orientation in its collective bargaining agreement. These policy changes pave the way for more players to come out of the closet.
4. Rick Welts, President of the Phoenix Suns, comes out. Having worked in the NBA for decades, Rick Welts had kept his sexual orientation a secret from his colleagues, but on May 15, 2011, he revealed to the public for the first time that he’s gay. Welts has since made media appearances about homophobia in sports, and by being an openly gay president of an NBA team, people listen.
5. ESPN radio's Jared Max reveals he's gay on air. In the wake of recent pronouncements from Phoenix Suns executive Rick Welts and former Villanova basketball player Will Sheridan, Jared Max, the veteran radio sports reporter, informed ESPN-1050 listeners that he himself was also gay. "Are we ready to have our sports information delivered by someone who is gay?" Max asked. "We're going to find out. Because for the last 16 years I've been living a free life among all my close friends and family. But I've been living behind what is a gargantuan size secret in the sports world…I'm gay. Yeah, Jared Max the sports guy with one of the most familiar voices in New York sports isn't quite like the majority."
6. Sean Avery publicly supports marriage equality. Avery made a video supporting same-sex marriage in New York. "I treat everyone the way I expect to be treated," Avery explained, "and that applies to marriage…Committed couples should be able to marry the person they love. Join me in supporting marriage equality." His support made national headlines and made him the most prominent straight sports ally for marriage equality. 
7. Johnny Weir officially comes out. While it wasn't really a surprise to anyone, the three-time U.S. National Champion figure skater publicly came out in his memoir, Welcome to My World. Weir had previously skirted around the issue when asked about his sexuality by the media. 
8. Steven Davies is 1st international cricketer to come out. While this may not seem like big news to Americans, this event was arguably one of the most important sports stories of the year in England. 
9. Professional British rugby player, Ben Cohen, creates foundation to combat homophobia and bullying. In May 2011, Cohen retired from professional rugby to focus on The Ben Cohen StandUp Foundation he created to combat homophobia and bullying, particularly in sports.  Off the field he is considered a gay icon and he often speaks favorably of his gay following.

10. New England Patriots, Bret Locket, joins campaign for marriage equality. Locket posed for the NOH8 campaign earlier this year because he was bullied in school. “It’s a sad thing," he said." And it’s not just being gay. There are kids who kill themselves for being a nerd or being fat. There’s not enough support in life today. We need to start lifting people up instead of trying to bring them down.”