Swoopes comes out of the closet!!!!!

**OAR** · October 26th, 2005, 02:06 PM

October 26, 2005
NEW YORK (AP) -- Houston Comets forward Sheryl Swoopes is opening up about being a lesbian, telling a magazine that she's ``tired of having to hide my feelings about the person I care about.''

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.

``It's not something that I want to throw in people's faces. I'm just at a point in my life where I'm tired of having to pretend to be somebody I'm not,'' the 34-year-old Swoopes said. ``I'm tired of having to hide my feelings about the person I care about. About the person I love.''

A release from ESPN The Magazine about the story did not disclose the identity of Swoopes' partner.

A five-time All-Star and three-time Olympic gold medalist, Swoopes is the WNBA's only three-time MVP. She played for the Comets during their run of four championships from 1997-2000, but missed the 2001 season with a knee injury.

She said her biggest worry about her revelation is that people will be afraid to look up to her.

``I don't want that to happen,'' she said. ``Being gay has nothing to do with the three gold medals or the three MVPs or the four championships I've won. I'm still the same person. I'm Sheryl.''

Swoopes led the WNBA in scoring last year, averaging 18.6 points. She also averaged 4.3 assists and 2.65 steals while making 85 percent of her free throws and playing a league-high 37.1 minutes a game.

She said it ``irritates'' her that no one talks about gays playing in men's sports, but that it's become an issue in the WNBA.

``Sexuality and gender don't change anyone's performance on the court,'' she said. ``Women play just as hard as guys do. We're just as competitive.''

**imported_MoonlightGraham** · October 26th, 2005, 02:12 PM

Todays random question

whas more popular the wnba, nhl, or world cup soccer in this part of America?

**imported_kydawg95** · October 26th, 2005, 02:17 PM

I think that it would have to be NHL around this area hands down!

**Shoe** · October 26th, 2005, 02:35 PM

I too would have to say NHL.

**Herbie_Husker** · October 26th, 2005, 10:28 PM

She makes me sick!

**Diets17** · October 26th, 2005, 10:32 PM

Shes a heck of a basketball player.

**knight_67** · October 26th, 2005, 10:32 PM

yeah, gay people are so nasty...

**MikMo** · October 26th, 2005, 10:39 PM

What a big suprise coming from someone in the WNBA....should be WNBGay.

**CoeburnCane** · October 26th, 2005, 10:40 PM

I always thought Sheryl Swoopes was a pretty woman and a pretty decent person for all of the charity work she's ever done through her WNBA career. Helluva basketball player as well, one of the better ones, male or female, gay or straight, on the entire planet.

Her coming out of the closet changes none of that for me. She's still established herself as a very respectable person in my mind. What she does in the bedroom is none of my or anyone else's business.