pride source.com - Farmington, MI, USA - Martina Navratilova. Esera Tuaolo. Dave Kopay. Billy Bean. Billie Jean King. The list is short, but the names are familiar - modern-day, openly gay athletes.

Yet gay sports did not suddenly appear, full blown, in the waning days of the 20th century. Less known - but equally important - are athletes like these: Ana Maria Sagi, Wilhelm Von Homburg, Erik Schinegger, and Joan of Arc.

"Joan of Arc?!"

Their stories, and those of a dozen other sportsmen and women (read down to find out how Joan of Arc made the cut) are rivetingly told in "The Lavender Locker Room." The recent book by