LGBT athletes talk about what National Coming Out Day means to them

Today is National Coming Out Day, an annual event to celebrate the power of LGBT people coming out in their personal lives and publicly to the world.

For Outsports, every day is Coming-Out and Being-Out Day. The power of out LGBT people to shift culture simply by being out to their teammates, coaches, friends and family is powerful. Coming out publicly inspires others to do the same.

These LGBT athletes share what coming out means to them.

Andrea Barone, professional hockey referee

Read Dre's story here.

Connor Curnick, U.S. Navy sailor, water polo player

Read Conner's coming out story.

Ashley Dai, former University of North Carolina water polo player

Read Ashley's coming out story.

Spenser Clark, former Washington Nationals batboy and Major League Baseball intern

Read Spenser's coming out story.

Jonathan Peters, high school athlete, coach and LGBT advocate

Middle school and high school coach Stephen Alexander

Read Stephen's coming out story.

Outsports has run hundreds of LGBT coming out stories in our history. Check out some here!