It's only a short step from "don't cry like a girl" and "don't be a bitch" to "women are inferior." These assumptions and connections, part of what many are calling "toxic masculinity," enable violence against gay (or "effeminate" men) and violence against women alike.

If these are just football matters, why are we seeing all the headlines about these men being cut for supporting gays and lesbians? It's simple: Because people still want to believe that the NFL hates gay people.

Think about it: if coming out as an ally and publicly supporting equality is considered a "distraction," how will an NFL team react to the avalanche of media attention, accolades, hate mail, death threats, etc. when an active player actually comes out as gay?

During an interview with "Meet The Press" on Sunday, former Baltimore Ravens linebacker Brendon Ayanbadejo, who works closely with Athlete Ally, said ...

Openly gay former NFL player Wade Davis is set to speak at the 18th annual Youth Pride Day celebration in Washington, D.C., presented by the Youth Pri...

WASHINGTON -- The National Football League met with LGBT rights groups last week about the push to end homophobia in sports, at a time when speculatio...

WASHINGTON -- NFL wide receiver Donté Stallworth has joined Athlete Ally, a group dedicated to fighting homophobia in sports. His announcement comes ...

WASHINGTON -- There has never been an openly gay player in the NFL, and Seattle Seahawks defensive end Chris Clemons thinks it might be best if it sta...

WASHINGTON -- No gay athlete playing in men's professional football, basketball, hockey or baseball has ever come out. But with rumors swirling that a...

The blogosphere is abuzz with news that a current NFL star is heavily considering coming out of the closet -- but one football player isn't so sure. ...

As a gay sports fan, I have a simple message for any athlete who is ready to come out: We got you. I hope you are listening, because the LGBT sports-loving community has been waiting for this for a long time and we are ready to battle for you.

The prospect of openly gay athletes playing professional sports has been the talk of the town in recent weeks. Now Detroit Tigers star pitcher Justin ...

Valentine's Day traditionally brings several pages in newspaper classified sections featuring tiny black hearts followed by romantic messages. Perhaps it's a blessing that print editions are dying -- there's something creepy about all those black hearts, as if they bear a curse.

Eight days before the gayest Super Bowl week on record, I walked toward the Baltimore Ravens' locker room in New England consumed entirely with though...