Jason Collins: NBA Player ....... "I'm Gay"

**chance1** · April 29th, 2013, 03:45 PM

someone had to be first .......

It's jason collins

have not seen him play - no idea of his skill set

he's 34 years old - was closeted - now he isn't

he has a twin brother - who didn't know

good for Jason

I'm proud of him

his game is on the back end of the career however ...... so not sure this story will have legs

will he be re-signed ? it should be interesting to see

http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/92...-active-player

**chance1** · April 29th, 2013, 03:54 PM

Pres. Obama called him to offer support and thanks

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/0...n_3181170.html

- - - Updated - - -

Originally Posted by loki81

that's nice.

really struggling to understand why someone's sexuality is worth front page stories on CNN, NYTimes, Washington Post, etc though.

because sports is soooooo homophobic

**chance1** · April 29th, 2013, 04:01 PM

Kobe and Steve Nash are backing Jason Collins up

http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2013/04/2...e-who-you-are/

**chance1** · April 29th, 2013, 04:06 PM

then there's Mike Wallace

newly rich and famous WR for the Miami Dolphins formerly of the Pittsburgh Steelers who proves that having money and brains is clearly mutually exclusive

Dolphins receiver Mike Wallace responds to Jason Collins’ announcement, wonders why ‘guys wanna mess with other guys’

http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nfl-sh...195034581.html

**Rolyo85** · April 29th, 2013, 04:10 PM

Well, any athlete from a major organization that comes out while playing and DOESN'T immediately quit, is huge news. I don't care about professional sports at all, but I know how important they are to the majority of people, so this is definitely relevant.

**MisterMajestic** · April 29th, 2013, 07:20 PM

First of all I'm PROUD of Jason Collins. Jason decided to tell his "Truth" to his Family, Friends, Team-mates & the World. It takes Strength, a level of Courage and bravery for any Man let alone a Public figure to do it. Any weight that he was carrying around for the last 34yrs of his life has been lifted.

What better Media-outlet for an Athlete to tell his story than Sports Illustrated. Athlete's in the World of Sports would KILL to be on a SI cover. Better to do it that way than a LIVE Press Conference. I give Jason credit for that. He can address the Public LIVE when he's ready..

I'm still curious about the "Coming out Spoiler Alerts" Jason issued weeks prior...And I HOPE the Media asks him why...Why did he need to throw a bone out there before coming out? Jason is human and FEAR is a real thing but there's a motive behind what he did. Trust me on that.

Now Bill Clinton says he's known Jason through his friendship with Chelsea...Chelsea & Hillary love Jason to pieces...blah, blah, blah..And now Joe Kennedy says he's known Jason for X amount of years and there's an article stating how HE helped Jason "come out"...Really?

I can't wait to watch & listen to Jason LIVE...I hope this Guy is the REAL thing and not an Opportunist....It's gonna be very interesting to see who Jason Collins really is or who he claims he is...

All of this was a bit Polished if you ask me...I'm not Witch hunting the Brotha I'm just gonna listen to what comes out of his mouth & watch his actions...Will he be a Role Model? We'll see...

**Jack Springer** · April 29th, 2013, 07:59 PM

Who's next?

**chrisrobin** · April 29th, 2013, 08:03 PM

.
It is my hope that Jason Collins will inspire gay kids who are still in high school or even college.

Here is a quotation that I think is apropo .

Each time a man stands up for an ideal, or acts to improve the lot of others, or strikes out against injustice, he sends forth a tiny ripple of hope, and those ripples build a current which can sweep down the mightiest walls of oppression and resistance.

Senator Robert F. Kennedy, June 6 1966 (South Africa address)

The current continues to sweep. Thanks, Jason.

**chance1** · April 29th, 2013, 08:40 PM

ESPN columnist Chris Broussard is rampantly anti gay it appears

called homosexuality a sin

and more lovelies

wonder if he gets fired

my guess is yes - not sure how i feel about that

http://insidetv.ew.com/2013/04/29/es...jason-collins/

**Just_Believe18** · April 29th, 2013, 09:12 PM

Originally Posted by loki81

that's nice.

really struggling to understand why someone's sexuality is worth front page stories on CNN, NYTimes, Washington Post, etc though.

Exactly the same comments Republican homophobes are making on the comment boards throughout news sites everywhere. Let me explain it to you:

It's significant because Jason Collins is the first active NBA star to come out as gay in a homophobic world of sports dominated by heterosexual stereotypes. In case you didn't know, professional sports is very unwelcoming of homosexual players. You need only look at the 49ers controversy that happened in the Super Bowl this year to see how gay players are treated with disdain for not being trusted to be in the locker room with all those heterosexual players. Which is why other gay sports players who have come out have done so after retiring from sports. The fear and condemnation is terrible, which is why when someone as brave as Jason Collins comes out, it's significant, national news. It's another barrier shattered where homosexuality is welcomed in another community of society.

There will come a day when a moment like this is not newsworthy. That will be a day when openly gay players sign onto professional sports teams and are just as popular for their talents as heterosexual players. When that day comes, you won't have to feel offended when a gay sports player makes the headlines, loki81.

**Ninja108** · April 30th, 2013, 04:31 AM

It's a big deal because to the sports world and many others,the lGBT community is still the big bad other we all need to fear and discriminate against.
The more people come out,the more we show that isn't true.

**Rolyo85** · April 30th, 2013, 07:35 AM

I just had such a "daaawww" moment when he said he chose 98 in honor of Matthew Shepherd

**CoolBlue71** · April 30th, 2013, 07:56 AM

I don't tend to watch much of ESPN.

I was listening to Bill Press's show, on Current TV, and he had a guest who came down on ESPN for making much of the day's top news being about NFL's Tim Tebrow ouster from New York Jets. That there is that type of a problem ongoing with ESPN. That the way it is run shows ESPN embarrassingly out of touch. (Some here may want to weigh in on that.) Especially this case because the news is historical: a player from a team that is among one of the nation's big four [NFL, NBA, NHL, MLB] in professional sports.

I'm glad NBA's Jason Collins, 34, put himself out there … and I congratulate him.

**HenryReardon** · April 30th, 2013, 10:44 AM

Originally Posted by chrisrobin

It is my hope that Jason Collins will inspire gay kids who are still in high school or even college.

D:

And, he's wholesome looking - no visible tats or piercings - always a plus for role models.

**eastofeden** · April 30th, 2013, 11:22 AM

I am sincerely happy for him. I am also sincerely happy for the people who will be inspired by him or who will be positively affected by his announcement and the example he has set.

The only time I ever really cared about a celebrity/athlete coming out was Lily Tomlin....she was a personal inspiration for me. She made it a non issue and I love when anyone makes it a non issue. There were no magazine covers or coming out stories. That is what I personally respond to and applaud.

**Just_Believe18** · April 30th, 2013, 07:32 PM

Originally Posted by loki81

offended? what?

Well your only comments were being dismissive of a social barrier being broken, while the rest of your focus was complaining about the attention Jason Collins was receiving. While others on here have been supportive and excited, you seemed annoyed, if not offended by the attention.

**chance1** · April 30th, 2013, 07:35 PM

Originally Posted by Just_Believe18

Well your only comments were being dismissive of a social barrier being broken, while the rest of your focus was complaining about the attention Jason Collins was receiving. While others on here have been supportive and excited, you seemed annoyed, if not offended by the attention.

over-reaction JB

Loki doesn't get very excited at anything

is my take

I'll let Loki weigh in but i was surprised at your depiction of him

chill = Loki

the rest of us just say we are

LOL

**chance1** · April 30th, 2013, 07:39 PM

Originally Posted by Rolyo85

I just had such a "daaawww" moment when he said he chose 98 in honor of Matthew Shepherd

http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nba-ba...200440769.html

Matthew Shepherd's parents were just on with Lawrence O'Donnell - wonderful people who appreciate Jason's kindness there and are excited about the momentum for gay marriage

**bike10** · May 1st, 2013, 02:50 PM

I stand to applaud Jason as he made the choice to come out. His words are true and now has opened the door for other jocks in pros, college and high school. Have number of pro athletes who have come to support. Plus the negatives of far right of there hate and intolerace for gay black jock.

**chance1** · May 1st, 2013, 07:01 PM

latest is that Jason Collins is hot hot hot - not as in hot piece of ass

but as in desirable by companies from a marketing perspective

Coming out could mean a huge financial windfall for him

Quite an upgrade from an NBA journeyman

I have no idea if this was part of his decision making process - I doubt it - but it appears he could do very well with this

http://espn.go.com/blog/playbook/dol...-jason-collins

**TX-Beau** · May 1st, 2013, 07:36 PM

If gay men could actually make millions upon millions of dollars being out athletes - well........

Being out is only that revolutionary among straight people.

I'm happy that he found the courage to come out - but that isn't going to get me to buy anything.

**Zingerific** · May 2nd, 2013, 08:37 PM

I just found this in The Atlantic. I had never heard of this guy before: Actually, Jason Collins Isn't the First Openly Gay Man in a Major Pro Sport

**TX-Beau** · May 2nd, 2013, 08:39 PM

No that was Martina Navratolova

(ducks)

**Jack Springer** · May 2nd, 2013, 09:06 PM

... yeah, but Collins has a bigger penis.

**cm98059** · May 3rd, 2013, 12:13 AM

I congratulate Jason Collins on coming out, but he isn't the first athlete to come out during his career. Evan Darling of NASCAR came out while he was still active in auto racing. Only to find his sponsors who proclaim that they are LGBT friendly withdraw their support. I hope that this is not a career ending move for another athlete.

**rareboy** · May 3rd, 2013, 03:59 AM

Originally Posted by Zingerific

I just found this in The Atlantic. I had never heard of this guy before: Actually, Jason Collins Isn't the First Openly Gay Man in a Major Pro Sport

What Ayanbadejo didn't know was that one baseball player already had. This week's coming out by NBA player Jason Collins is momentous, but the Jackie Robinson of gay rights was Glenn Burke, who played for the Los Angeles Dodgers and Oakland A's from 1976 to 1979. He tried to change sports culture three decades ago—but back then, unlike now, sports culture wasn't ready for a change.

This was an amazing story and I had completely forgotten about it (as had 99.9% of everyone) until you reminded me.

The guy is one of my personal heroes and ought ot be remembered by every homo whether they play or are interested in sports or not.

**Ninja108** · May 3rd, 2013, 04:44 AM

I have read and heard the story of Glenn Burke. If nothing else,it shows not only the courage he showed back then but sad to say,the ignorance and bigotry of Tommy Lasorda,someone whom I used to admire in baseball.
The way he treated Glenn was bad enough but to refuse and deny who your son was to this day? Inexcusable any way you look at it.

**Kulindahr** · May 3rd, 2013, 06:42 PM

Originally Posted by Just_Believe18

Exactly the same comments Republican homophobes are making on the comment boards throughout news sites everywhere. Let me explain it to you:

It's significant because Jason Collins is the first active NBA star to come out as gay in a homophobic world of sports dominated by heterosexual stereotypes. In case you didn't know, professional sports is very unwelcoming of homosexual players. You need only look at the 49ers controversy that happened in the Super Bowl this year to see how gay players are treated with disdain for not being trusted to be in the locker room with all those heterosexual players. Which is why other gay sports players who have come out have done so after retiring from sports. The fear and condemnation is terrible, which is why when someone as brave as Jason Collins comes out, it's significant, national news. It's another barrier shattered where homosexuality is welcomed in another community of society.

Were I their coach, I'd tell those players they're only afraid because they darned well know that they couldn't be trusted in a locker room full of women -- there's no danger, they're just projecting.

**skinIsIn** · May 4th, 2013, 12:12 AM

Originally Posted by Zingerific

I just found this in The Atlantic. I had never heard of this guy before: Actually, Jason Collins Isn't the First Openly Gay Man in a Major Pro Sport

What Ayanbadejo didn't know was that one baseball player already had. This week's coming out by NBA player Jason Collins is momentous, but the Jackie Robinson of gay rights was Glenn Burke, who played for the Los Angeles Dodgers and Oakland A's from 1976 to 1979. He tried to change sports culture three decades ago—but back then, unlike now, sports culture wasn't ready for a change.

Originally Posted by rareboy

This was an amazing story and I had completely forgotten about it (as had 99.9% of everyone) until you reminded me.The guy is one of my personal heroes and ought ot be remembered by every homo whether they play or are interested in sports or not.

http://www.justusboys.com/forum/thre...ht=Glenn+Burke

Originally Posted by Ninja108

I have read and heard the story of Glenn Burke. If nothing else,it shows not only the courage he showed back then but sad to say,the ignorance and bigotry of Tommy Lasorda,someone whom I used to admire in baseball. The way he treated Glenn was bad enough but to refuse and deny who your son was to this day? Inexcusable any way you look at it.

At least we as gay men know our history, those poor souls lost too early to AIDS have a voice by those of us who keep their trailblazing contributions in both the collective minds of mainstream media and the modern ignorant gay youth

**skinIsIn** · May 4th, 2013, 12:30 AM

Ugh. This is the thread I wanted to highlight but was having issues on my iPhone with the 'edit' function for thread posts.

http://www.justusboys.com/forum/thre...ht=Glenn+Burke

**Spiff** · May 4th, 2013, 07:33 AM

I overheard some of my conservative leaning, straight colleagues at work yesterday talking about this. They are all the armchair quarterback types. They seemed generally accepting, but then they went on to say that there will never be an openly gay NHL hockey player. "That will NEVER happen" they smugly said. Straight people are funny. I'm sure they will be choking on their words in the near future. Then they went on to make fun of soccer. "Now an openly gay soccer player we can believe, that always was sort of a gay sport."

**chrisrobin** · May 5th, 2013, 08:32 PM

'
I'm astonished at the amount of international attention Jason's coming out has brought. As the old song goes, "The best is yet to come." The usual suspects who condemn homosexuality ultimately will find themselves on the wrong side of history.

**Ninja108** · May 6th, 2013, 04:37 AM

At some point,there will be gay players in MLB. I hope the point is made that it's not a choice unlike the ones who decided to take PED's,cheat on their wives etc.

**CoolBlue71** · May 6th, 2013, 06:17 AM

Originally Posted by Spiff

I overheard some of my conservative leaning, straight colleagues at work yesterday talking about this. They are all the armchair quarterback types. They seemed generally accepting, but then they went on to say that there will never be an openly gay NHL hockey player. "That will NEVER happen" they smugly said. Straight people are funny. I'm sure they will be choking on their words in the near future. Then they went on to make fun of soccer. "Now an openly gay soccer player we can believe, that always was sort of a gay sport."

They are stupid.

Every bit as much now as they were in the past.

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