Joan M. Garry, the Executive Director of the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD), praised Sheehan for her courage in coming out during her playing days and commended her for her comments about her family: "Love is at the heart of parenting, and gay and lesbian people are as committed to that ideal as anyone. [Sheehan's] voice resonates to many thousands of fans, and she is sending an accurate, positive message about our community."

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The couple has also adopted another child, a son, Blake.

During the new millennium, Sheehan continued to play well, although she participated in fewer events than she had earlier in her career. Nevertheless, her performance was such that in 2001 she was named for the fifth time to the team representing the United States against European players in the tournament for the Solheim Cup. In 2001 Sheehan was named team captain, a position that she held through 2003.

Sheehan then left the regular LPGA tour, on which she had won 35 tournaments. Among her most prestigious victories, along with her two at the U.S. Open, were three at the LPGA Championships and one at the Dinah Shore.

Sheehan has continued her winning ways in the LPGA's senior division, called the Legends tour.

She has also been instrumental in bringing the United States team three wins in a row (2006-2008) over the World team in the Handa Cup tournament, an event for women 45 years of age and older.

Sheehan, Gaston, and their children live in Reno. The couple is active in the life of the community. Sheehan has put on a golf clinic to raise money for the Girl Scouts, and both she and Gaston have participated in events benefiting the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation and the Children's Cabinet, a local charity that offers health, counseling, tutoring, and other service to at-risk families.

Although lesbians and athletics have long been identified with each other, lesbian athletes, despite great achievements, still face numerous obstacles.

Closeted throughout his professional basketball career, John Amaechi is the first player from the National Basketball Association to acknowledge that he is gay; since coming out, he has become an eloquent spokesman for glbtq rights.

Despite all her triumphs, Mildred "Babe" Didrikson, one of the greatest women athletes in history, was taunted by charges of "mannishness" and "unnaturalness."

Golfer Rosie Jones enjoyed great success both as an amateur and a professional; since her public coming out in 2004 she has helped increase glbtq visibility in sports.

One of the few elite glbtq athletes to come out publicly while still competing, Amélie Mauresmo has held the number one ranking of the Women's Tennis Association.

One of the greatest tennis players in history, Martina Navratilova has become an outspoken supporter of gay and lesbian rights.

In 2005 basketball star and three-time Olympic champion Sheryl Swoopes publicly came out as a lesbian and acknowledged her committed relationship with another woman.