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"   The times they are-a-changin.&amp;#039; While the fight for equality for gays and lesbians rages on from the steps of Washington to the boardrooms of the Boys Scouts, some progressive companies like Nike have no problem choosing a side. The powerhouse sports brand has just endorsed 22-year-old WNBA draft pick and openly gay woman, Brittney Griner. The Nike endorsement was announced just a couple of days after Griner spoke openly about her sexuality to Sports Illustrated in an interview. When asked if it was difficult to be out of the closet as a famous athlete, Griner responded, &amp;quot;I&amp;#039;ve always been open about who I am and my sexuality. It wasn&amp;#039;t hard at all. If I can show that I&amp;#039;m out and I&amp;#039;m fine, then hopefully the younger generation will feel the same way.&amp;quot; Although Griner is not the first openly gay woman to get a major endorsement deal, it is a significant symbol of where the culture is heading. If tolerance toward gays and lesbians is being promoted in the world of major league sports, one of the most macho and conservative facets of society, it&amp;#039;s clear that we are moving forward.  While Nike has been very vocal about wanting to endorse openly gay athletes, they are still waiting for a man to come out. For some reason it&amp;#039;s been easier for female athletes to be open about their sexuality without damaging their careers.  At another point during the interview, Griner gives people of all genders and sexual orientations some very sage advice. She says, &amp;quot;I&amp;quot;ve always been one to be myself and be different...it&amp;#039;s okay to be different, you don&amp;#039;t want to be like everybody else. Be who you are, and don&amp;#039;t worry about what other people are gonna say &amp;#039;cuz they&amp;#039;re always gonna say something.&amp;quot;  Whether you are gay, straight, bisexual or just plain over it, those are some good words to live by.      Photo Credit: Getty Images Want more musings from Rose? Follow her on Twitter. "^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://www.cosmopolitan.com/sex-love/news/a12614/brittney-griner-nike-endorsement/>