How's this for a sign of progress in the new year?
ESPN set a new precedent over the weekend by airing footage of an openly gay athlete kissing and hugging his husband after a victory.
Openly gay professional bowler Scott Norton defeated Jason Belmonte in the 2012 PBA Chameleon Championship in Las Vegas. After sealing the win, Scott's husband Craig Woodward rushed over to give him a smooch and hug, and ESPN didn't shy away.
Outsports pointed out that during the telecast, ESPN’s announcers referred to Craig as Scott’s husband or spouse.
The 30-year-old bowler tied the knot with Craig, a United Healthcare executive, in October 2011.
Although Scott came out to friends and family as a teenager, he did not come out publicly until 2011.
'It is extremely important for me to come out to show other gay athletes, both current and future, that it is important to come out to show that we are just like everyone else,' Craig said at the time. 'Being gay doesn't define who I am as a person or as a professional athlete. I'm also a professional bowler, a lawyer, caring, compassionate, strong, and many other things.
'It's important to show people that being gay has nothing to do with one's ability to do anything as a man, least of all compete in the highest level of sports.'
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