The social dichotomy for members of the LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgendered) community in all walks of life is that such asterisks attach themselves to announcements and conversations on a regular basis.
Walker had recruited all the girls to whom he was speaking, worked with them for years, produced wildly successful results on the softball field and fostered an environment that produced equally impressive results in the classroom, but even he couldn't know how the news might change their perception of him, even if nothing about him actually changed in those seconds of revelation. Much as former Missouri men's lacrosse coach Kyle Hawkins -- whether or not it ultimately played any role in his dismissal after the club program's first losing season under his direction -- couldn't have known how his players would react upon learning he was gay.
I think they must mean that he is the only openly homosexual male coach but regardless, this can only be viewed as progress for our society. On the other hand, I think that the Hawkins situation will always be mentioned in this type of story and will continue to cast Mizzou in what is arguably a bad light.
