The landscape of professional sports changed this week. Jason Collins, longtime NBA center, openly announced to the world Monday the he is gay. In a first-person essay written for Sports Illustrated, Collins declared, “I’m a 34-year-old NBA center. I’m black. And I’m gay”.
This makes Collins the first active openly gay player in the history of major American team sports.
This is an announcement that has been speculated on for quite some time. It had become known that there are gay players currently on rosters of American professional franchises. It is a development that everyone knew was coming, it was just a matter of when someone mustered the courage to be the first.
That pioneer is Jason Collins.
How fans will receive Collins is a fact that remains to be seen. What is known is that he has received the full support of current and past sports icons.
This support has been almost universal, a refreshing sight in a current social landscape in which intolerance is still exhibited.
High profile athletes took to Twitter on Monday to show their full support for Collins. To let the trailblazer and their thousands of subscribers know that they support his decision to be honest with his teammates and fans about the man that he is.
Martina Navratilova, a longtime dominant female tennis player, came out in the early 1980’s. She had this message for Collins:
Well done Jason Collins- you are a brave man. And a big man at that:) 1981 was the year for me- 2013 is the year for you:)
— Martina Navratilova (@Martina) April 29, 2013
Kenneth Faried, current beloved standout for the Denver Nuggets, had this to say to enthusiastically show his support:
Wow this is amazing all smiles.. So so happy Jason Collins came out & announce he was openly GAY ALL SUPPORT OVER HERE #ATHLETEALLY #LGBT
— Kenneth Faried (@KennethFaried35) April 29, 2013
Robbie Rogers, former American soccer player, has come out as gay after his retirement. He had this to say about the acceptance of gay athletes and to show his support for Collins:
I feel a movement coming.
— Robbie Rogers (@robbierogers) April 29, 2013
Brendon Ayanbadejo, current NFL free agent linebacker and longtime spokesperson for equality, made this post in support:
By @jasoncollins34 opening doors & doing it his way on his time he has helped shape a more accepting America. May many more follow #courage
— Brendon Ayanbadejo (@brendon310) April 29, 2013
Collins has even received words of support and encouragement from outside the world of sports, including Bill Clinton and current First Lady Michelle Obama:
I’m proud to call Jason Collins a friend. wjcf.co/154piCi
— Bill Clinton (@billclinton) April 29, 2013
So proud of you, Jason Collins! This is a huge step forward for our country. We’ve got your back! -mo
— FLOTUS (@FLOTUS) April 29, 2013
How basketball fans accept him remains to be seen. He will certainly encounter the occasional signs of intolerance and hateful slurs, an unfortunate fact not changing anytime soon.
But he can sleep a little sounder knowing that he has the full support of the vast majority involved in American professional sports.
Hopefully the response he has received will have an impact in further encouraging diversity and acceptance.
Jason Weingartner is an NBA and NFL contributor for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @JaWeingartner or add him to your network on Google.
