Male basketball star becomes first major US sportsman to come out

[Shaun]

US basketball player Jason Collins has come out as gay, the first active male athlete in a major American professional team sport to do so.

He declared his sexuality in an article for Sports Illustrated which began: "I'm a 34-year-old NBA center. I'm black. And I'm gay."

Collins said he had struggled with his sexuality for years.

Former NBA player John Amaechi came out as gay in 2007, but he had already retired.

Former US President Bill Clinton was among those who sent messages of support to Collins on Monday.

In the Sports Illustrated article, Collins, who has most recently played for the Washington Wizards and the Boston Celtics, said: "I didn't set out to be the first openly gay athlete playing in a major American team sport.

"But since I am, I'm happy to start the conversation. I wish I wasn't the kid in the classroom raising his hand and saying, 'I'm different.'

"If I had my way, someone else would have already done this. Nobody has, which is why I'm raising my hand."

Collins, who is professionally a free agent, having played 11 seasons in the NBA with six teams, said he had tried to suppress his feelings through relationships with women.

"When I was younger I dated women. I even got engaged," he said. "I thought I had to live a certain way.

"I thought I needed to marry a woman and raise kids with her. I kept telling myself the sky was red, but I always knew it was blue."

Collins said he decided he should go public after his former roommate at California's Stanford University, Congressman Joe Kennedy, scion of the Kennedy political dynasty, marched in a Boston gay parade.

:worship:

[Brother Leon]

He won't even be playing again more than likely, but good on him.

[Ninastar]

What a man. Good day for America. Hope he doesn't get too much hate.

[Wildcat!]

I know this guy! He is one of the Collins twins from Stanford.

[Brother Leon]

He's getting alot of support. There are some kids saying he only done it so someone signs him though. Kobe Bryant has just sent him a tweet of support. Everyone is gonna follow suit soon enough.

[Z]

It's incredibly brave, but as he's a free agent, he probably doesn't have very much to lose by coming forward at this point, which is smart I think.

[Roy Mars III]

He's getting alot of support. There are some kids saying he only done it so someone signs him though. Kobe Bryant has just sent him a tweet of support. Everyone is gonna follow suit soon enough.

I thought he was already signed with the Wizards?

[lostalex]

There was a british Basketballer who came out after he left the NBA right? I think he did the BBC comentary duing the olympic basketball games.

[Mystic Mock]

Well done to the guy for coming out, but I don't know how Basketball fans and the players in the Sport will react to it for the most part.

[lostalex]

I agree with THIS...

I1FPxypVBBE

[Wildcat!]

I thought he was already signed with the Wizards?

He not! To say he is an actie player is misleading. He wasnt very good when he was young. Now he sucks. He knows his career is over, and will not get another contract anyways.
Not exactly brave.

[Roy Mars III]

He not! To say he is an actie player is misleading. He wasnt very good when he was young. Now he sucks. He knows his career is over, and will not get another contract anyways.
Not exactly brave.

Well he was playing for the Wizards, of course he sucked.

He will probably he signed to a team now though

[Brother Leon]

I thought he was already signed with the Wizards?

Free agent this summer I think. Dunno if they are planning to extent his contract or not yet. Some team that needs bodies to foul and clog up the paint will probably sign him though.

[Brother Leon]

Boston Red Sox ‏@RedSox 26m

We salute you, @jasoncollins34 for your courage and leadership. Any time you want to throw out a first pitch at Fenway Park, let us know.
--

This is nice. Collins obviously was loved in Boston during his time with the Celtics. Hard not to when all he does is smile 24/7 :joker:

[Brother Leon]

Just Another post in this thread lol....But there is an actual reporter for ESPN who has had his say....
---

ESPN's Chris Broussard is getting flack online after he called homosexuality a "sin" during a Monday episode of Outside the Lines.

In a special one-hour episode covering the immediate effects of Washington Wizards center Jason Collins' coming out as a gay man on the cover of Sports Illustrated, Broussard briefly started discussing his personal beliefs about homosexuality.

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"If you're openly living that type of lifestyle, the bible says you know them by their fruits, it says that that's a sin," said Broussard, comparing homosexuality to any other sex outside of marriage. "If you're openly living in unrepentant sin, whatever it may be, I believe that's walking in open rebellion to God and Jesus Christ."

Broussard was on Outside the Lines to discuss the potential ramifications of an openly gay player in the NBA, and he noted that there were others who felt the way he did who might have reservations about discussing them openly.

"As a Christian, I don't agree with homosexuality. I think it's a sin," said Broussard. "There are a lot of Christians in the NBA, and just because they don't agree with that lifestyle, they don't want to be called bigoted and intolerant."

The 44-year-old ESPN Magazine columnist, who previously wrote that the NBA was "ready" for an openly gay player, has appeared on the network since 2004. When the interview veered towards the more incendiary comments, he notably started falling over some of his words and attempted to pad his religious references with some more diplomatic statements.

"A lot of people understand that it's a politically correct climate," said Broussard. "I've had some players say that they would be uncomfortable with a gay player in the locker room.... but no one is going to necessarily come out and say anything... If he doesn't get signed next year, it probably won't be because he came out as gay. He's towards the end of his career and not that good anymore."

ESPN did not immediately respond to The Hollywood Reporter's request for comment, and Broussard is already drawing a considerable amount of fire online.

The Center for American Progress has already drawn attention to the fact that Broussard's 2009 article on the NBA being ready to welcome openly gay players also noted him being personally uncomfortable with the idea of sharing a locker room with a gay man.
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/espns-chris-broussard-calls-homosexuality-448377
G4PTUPXdfE0&

[SoBig]

Broussand believes homosexuality is a sin. Like most Christians do. He shouldn't be crucified for his beliefs.

Jason was never a good basketball player. Its a surprise that he's been in the league for 13 years.

[lostalex]

Broussand believes homosexuality is a sin. Like most Christians do. He shouldn't be crucified for his beliefs.

Jason was never a good basketball player. Its a surprise that he's been in the league for 13 years.

Yes he should be. If he loves Jesus so much then let him walk his ass in Jesus's footsteps and be crucified, ignorant piece of ****. If being crucified is good enuf for Jesus it's good enuf for his ignorant ass. ******* him.

[bbfan1991]

Respect to him, it is his life and should not have to hide his sexuality from anyone but could understand why he did because of some bigots out there or people who don't like homosexuality due to religious beliefs.

[SoBig]

Yes he should be. If he loves Jesus so much then let him walk his ass in Jesus's footsteps and be crucified, ignorant piece of ****. If being crucified is good enuf for Jesus it's good enuf for his ignorant ass. ******* him.
Those are his religious beliefs. He has a right to an opinion whether they are ignorant or not.

[Shaun]

I wouldn't say most Christians believe it's a sin... largely because they're make-it-up-as-you-go-along sorts who've realised the scripture is full of ****, but cut them some slack. :wink:

[Joelle.]

Good for him :worship:

[lostalex]

i love that he said one of the reasons he's coming out now is because of the Boston Bombings. He's standing up to you religious bigots. He's throwing it in those Islamic bastards faces! Hell YES!

[Brother Leon]

i love that he said one of the reasons he's coming out now is because of the Boston Bombings. He's standing up to you religious bigots. He's throwing it in those Islamic bastards faces! Hell YES!

For someone who complains about bigotry a lot, you sure are one hell of a bigot yourself. :idc:

[Marcus.]

hats of to him

[Roy Mars III]

For someone who complains about bigotry a lot, you sure are one hell of a bigot yourself. :idc:

that's his schtick

[lostalex]

For someone who complains about bigotry a lot, you sure are one hell of a bigot yourself. :idc:

I'm a bigot for hating bigots? I don't think it works that way...

[Legend killer]

Way of WADE ‏@DwyaneWade 29 Apr
Jason Collins showed a lot of courage today and I respect him for taking a stand and choosing to live in his truth. #nbafamily