Several athletes have set the foundation across the sports world to be accepted for their identities and recognized for their talents in what was once an exclusive hetero-normative world.
Michael Sam, drafted by the St. Louis Rams, was the first openly gay athlete to come out to play in the NFL in 2014.
A major story around the sports community, the news showcased the bravery and emotion surrounding the former All-American linebacker at Missouri.
However, in August of 2015, the former SEC Defensive Player of the Year was forced to hang up his cleats because of mental health reasons.