This is a monumental day in the history of the LGBT community. NBA player, Jason Collins (34) came out today as gay and is the first active athlete in any of the four major US sports to come out as gay.
Rumors have been circling for several months that 4 gay NFL players are going to come out simultaneously before the season starts as well. For those who don’t follow sports, there is a well founded history of fear by gay athletes that if they come out, not only would it impact them economically by way of their contract, endorsements, and fan popularity, but there is also a great deal of concern about personal safety on the field or in the arena.
Imagine the shame of living a life holding such an enormous sexual secret for thirty some years, and imagine the courage it took to announce to a country and that can be intolerant of anything non-normative that I am different.
Jason was an all American at Stanford and subsequently played 12 years in the NBA. Jason is 34 and played this year for both the Washington Wizards and the Boston Celtics. He is currently a free agent.
