NBA free agent Jason Collins becomes 1st openly gay athlete in the NBA

We’ve been saying it’s only a matter of time before a gay athlete in one of the four major leagues came out. Today Sports Illustrated released an essay by Wizards center Jason Collins.

“I’m a 34-year-old NBA center. I’m black. And I’m gay.

[…]

Loyalty to my team is the real reason I didn’t come out sooner. When I signed a free-agent contract with Boston last July, I decided to commit myself to the Celtics and not let my personal life become a distraction. When I was traded to the Wizards, the political significance of coming out sunk in. I was ready to open up to the press, but I had to wait until the season was over.

A college classmate tried to persuade me to come out then and there. But I couldn’t yet. My one small gesture of solidarity was to wear jersey number 98 with the Celtics and then the Wizards. The number has great significance to the gay community. One of the most notorious antigay hate crimes occurred in 1998. Matthew Shepard, a University of Wyoming student, was kidnapped, tortured and lashed to a prairie fence. He died five days after he was finally found. That same year the Trevor Project was founded. This amazing organization provides crisis intervention and suicide prevention to kids struggling with their sexual identity. Trust me, I know that struggle. I’ve struggled with some insane logic. When I put on my jersey I was making a statement to myself, my family and my friends.

[…]

I’m glad I’m coming out in 2013 rather than 2003. The climate has shifted; public opinion has shifted. And yet we still have so much farther to go. Everyone is terrified of the unknown, but most of us don’t want to return to a time when minorities were openly discriminated against. I’m impressed with the straight pro athletes who have spoken up so far — Chris Kluwe, Brendon Ayanbadejo. The more people who speak out, the better, gay or straight. It starts with President Obama’s mentioning the 1969 Stonewall riots, which launched the gay rights movement, during his second inaugural address. And it extends to the grade-school teacher who encourages her students to accept the things that make us different.

The NBA, a chunk of it’s players and Commissioner David Stern all responded positively. But that doesn’t mean there wasn’t any backlash. Dolphins WR Mike Wallace seemed to genuinely have questions on the topic of homosexuality. He tweeted some.

Probably wasn’t the time or place to ask the questions with the current climate we’re in. Of course the Dolphins response was swift:

“Mike Wallace has apologized for his comments, and we have addressed the matter with him. Mike’s comments do not reflect the views of the Miami Dolphins. We believe in a culture of inclusiveness and respect, and any statements to the contrary are in no way acceptable to our organization.

“We will address the entire team about our policy of inclusion and make sure they all understand the importance of respecting individual choices.”

Never said anything was right or wrong I just said I don’t understand!! Deeply sorry for anyone that I offended

— Mike Wallace (@Wallace17_daKid) April 29, 2013

I didn’t find his questions offensive or promoting a culture of exclusivity. But I guess that’s where sensitivity training and education will come into play.

On ESPN’s “Outside the Lines,” analyst Chris Broussard expressed his feelings about homosexuality as a Christian man. He didn’t condemn Collins personally but expressed that his faith made it difficult for him to embrace not just homosexuality but fornication, adultery, premarital sex, etc.

“I’m a Christian. I don’t agree with homosexuality. I think it’s a sin, as I think all sex outside of marriage between a man and a woman is. [ESPN’s] L.Z. [Granderson] knows that. He and I have played on basketball teams together for several years. We’ve gone out, had lunch together, we’ve had good conversations, good laughs together. He knows where I stand and I know where he stands. I don’t criticize him, he doesn’t criticize me, and call me a bigot, call me ignorant, call me intolerant. 

“In talking to some people around the league, there’s a lot Christians in the NBA and just because they disagree with that lifestyle, they don’t want to be called bigoted and intolerant and things like that. That’s what LZ was getting at. Just like I may tolerate someone whose lifestyle I disagree with, he can tolerate my beliefs. He disagrees with my beliefs and my lifestyle but true tolerance and acceptance is being able to handle that as mature adults and not criticize each other and call each other names. 

“… Personally, I don’t believe that you can live an openly homosexual lifestyle or an openly premarital sex between heterosexuals, if you’re openly living that type of lifestyle, then the Bible says you know them by their fruits, it says that’s a sin. If you’re openly living in unrepentant sin, whatever it may be, not just homosexuality, adultery, fornication, premarital sex between heterosexuals, whatever it may be, I believe that’s walking in open rebellion to God and to Jesus Christ. I would not characterize that person as a Christian because I do not think the Bible would characterize them as a Christian.”

In the end, Collins is at the end of his NBA career. Some feel the impact would be different if it were a superstar. But moves like this pave the way for those that come behind them. We’re in a curious time where we’re encouraged to be more open, loving and accepting. Yet criticized heavily if we don’t agree with the general status quo.

Collins announcement no matter which side of the ball you view it from was courageous. Now that he’s out, how many will follow and how the narrative develops from there will be the story. One last quote from Collins’ essay:

I’ll sit down with any player who’s uneasy about my coming out. Being gay is not a choice. This is the tough road and at times the lonely road. Former players like Tim Hardaway, who said “I hate gay people” (and then became a supporter of gay rights), fuel homophobia. Tim is an adult. He’s entitled to his opinion. God bless America. Still, if I’m up against an intolerant player, I’ll set a pretty hard pick on him. And then move on.

video via BSO