Last Wednesday, WNBA superstar forward Sheryl Swoopes dropped a bombshell on fans and members of the sports media, saying Wshe is a lesbian.While the implications of this move are somewhat obvious – that she will be viewed as a hero by some and a bad role model and such by others – the long-lasting effects that this announcement will have has come under enormous scrutiny.Swoopes’ announcement is ground-breaking because while several college and professional athletes have come out in the past, predominately once their athletic careers have come to an end, none have ever come out while still participating in their sport, a team sport nonetheless, or been as high a profile figure as the 34-year-old Swoopes.In addition to being named the WNBA’s Most Valuable Player for the third time last month, Swoopes led the Texas Tech Lady Raiders to a national championship in 1993, has won three Olympic gold medals, won four WNBA championships with the Houston Comets and was the first female athlete to have a signature shoe named for her.With that said, the main concern of homosexuality in sports remains a major hot button issue and this announcement by Swoopes, the Michael Jordan of the women’s game, continues to bring it to the forefront of American conversation.Swoopes said that she did not admit to being gay with the motive of becoming a heroine, but rather because she was “tired of having to pretend to be somebody [I’m] not.”But this fact does not change the main point here. Through this act, Swoopes has made herself the sacrificial lamb for all other homosexual athletes living in fear of being outted.And with her example of courage to come out publicly, perhaps this will provide the necessary push for numerous other closeted gay athletes around the country to finally come out and be proud to do so.The other problem with homosexuality and sports is the double standard that women who admit to being lesbians are often viewed with respect while gay men in sports are generally depicted as disgraceful and not to be trusted. This in mind, most people involved in this debate do not believe the matter can ever be handled until a big time professional male athlete comes out of the closet in a team sport while still playing in the sport.This is not accurate. The fact that Swoopes is able to garner front page sports headlines for several days in every major sports periodical is a demonstration of just how important this issue actually is. However, until the outing of a male athlete changes things, the issue will never be addressed as an significant concern.Swoopes confronted the stereotype in her ESPN The Magazine interview charging that “Sexuality and gender don’t change anyone’s performance on the court.”