Martina Navratilova Tells Melissa Harris-Perry Why Jason Collins is So Important: VIDEO

Martina Navratilova appeared on Melissa Harris Perry's show on Sunday to talk about Jason Collins, his coming out, and why it's so important for athletes to continue doing so:

“In this day and age, a third of teenage suicides are due to their sexual orientations,” Navratilova said. “They’re so terrified of coming out as gay that they take their own life.”

Navratilova mentioned that she came out as AIDS was coming to light, and noted President Reagan’s failure to adequately acknowledge the problem was a part of the culture at the time.

“Being gay was the lowest of the low that you could get, and that’s why people stayed in the closet, because you could get so shamed, you were so ashamed of who you were—not because of who you thought you were, but because of what everybody else thought—that people just didn’t speak up.”

Watch, AFTER THE JUMP...

R.I. Governor Lincoln Chafee on His State and the Federal March to Marriage Equality: VIDEO

Shortly after signing Rhode Island's marriage equality bill into law, Rhode Island Governor Lincoln Chafee appeared on The Rachel Maddow Show to discuss his state's vote and the federal march toward marriage equality. Melissa Harris-Perry was filling in for Rachel.

Watch, AFTER THE JUMP...

Melissa Harris-Perry, Thomas Roberts Discuss Gay Families: VIDEO

On Saturday's edition of Melissa Harris-Perry's MSNBC show, the host invited a panel, including colleague and openly gay journalist Thomas Roberts, to discuss the changing definition of family here in 21st century America.

In addition to chatting about the politics of adoption, income disparities among racial, sexual and gendered demographics and conservative attacks on the new normal, the group also spent a fair amount of time discussing same-sex marriage. Roberts, who recently married husband Patrick Abner, had plenty of insight on that particular topic.

Watch the videos AFTER THE JUMP.

Being Transgender in America: VIDEO

Author Kate Bornstein, Mara Keisling, executive director of the National Center for Transgender Equality, and Mel Wymore, a Democratic candidate for the New York City Council, join MSNBC's Melissa Harris-Perry to discuss gender identity and discrimination.

Check it out, AFTER THE JUMP...