OK to be gay

There is only one homosexual professional footballer in the whole world.

Or at least only one who is open about it. (read about him here.)

The bible teaches that practicing homosexuality displeases God. Put another way; it's a sin. I am someone who has sexual feelings but is allowed to act on those feelings (but only with The Wife!); I imagine that obeying the command to resist acting on those feelings for all of life to be a real challenge and those that are trying to obey God and abstain from sex or sexual activity (including kissing and cuddling) with people they are attracted to deserve our support and our respect. 

By the same token those who give in to temptation in this way do not deserve the condemnation of others anymore than the rest of us. Open sin is wrong, wilful sin is wrong but, 'If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us' (1 John 1:8), so we need to be careful we don't fall into hypocrisy.

Anyway, back to the football. If someone is a practicing homosexual, engaging in sex outside of a heterosexual marriage relationship is it ok for them to fear their sexuality becoming known because of potential threatening consequences.  Should Christians stand up for gay footballers who want to come out or will that been seen as condoning that particular sin?

I believe that a person's heart cannot be changed by force.  The law will not bring anyone to faith but yet the law is useful for making us aware of what displeases God so do we condemn these men?

If we were to meet Anton Hysen (the gay footballer in question) and he was to ask us, was I right to 'come out'.  What would you say?