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Podcast: Responsibilities of LGBT athletes; a major star comes out

Shawn Barber, Sue Bird, Mayweather-McGregor and a little O.J.

15th IAAF World Athletics Championships Beijing 2015 - Day Four
Pole vaulter Shawn Barber came out earlier this year.
Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images

In this week’s Podcast:

  • Sue Bird comes out publicly as gay. What is it about women’s sport that make so many come out vs. men?
  • Canadian Olympic pole vaulter Shawn Barber came out as gay on Facebook in a brief post and then basically said nothing about it for weeks. Recently, when asked about coming out, he said: “It’s something that shouldn’t be a big deal,” Barber said, right after winning the Canadian championships. It’s a personal choice, it shouldn’t be so heavily debated."

A recent column ignited a debate that we will weigh into. We discuss whether being an openly gay athlete should mean anything and what responsibilities, if any, such athletes have.

  • Racism and homophobia are alive and well in the Mayweather-McGregor publicity tour.

Listen here.