Compete was founded in 2006 by Eric Carlyle and David Riach, then members of the Phoenix Storm gay rugby team.. After attending the Bingham Cup, the world championship of gay rugby, the men noticed a lack of media coverage and Compete Magazine was born (originally as Sports Out Loud).

[2] The Preview Issue was launched in February 2007 and distributed primarily to the media, ad buyers and select readers at such gay festivals as Phoenix Pride.

In June 2007 the first official issue debuted, featuring amateur gay athletes from Dallas, Texas modeling swimwear.

Many reports and blogs called the magazine "groundbreaking" for its coverage of gay sports.

[3] In May 2010 Media Out Loud, LLC announced a new, interactive website renamed Compete Network.