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NBA Brooklyn Nets

First Openly Gay NBA Player Jason Collins to Announce Retirement

By @MichaelTerrill

Jason Collins

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In a well-written piece in Sports Illustrated, Brooklyn Nets’ Jason Collins, who became the first openly gay player in North America’s four major sports leagues last year, talked about his announcement to retire Wednesday night at the Barclays Center.

“It has been 18 exhilarating months since I came out in Sports Illustrated as the first openly gay man in one of the four major professional team sports,” Collins wrote. “And it has been nine months since I signed with the Nets and became the first openly gay male athlete to appear in a game in one of those leagues. It feels wonderful to have been part of these milestones for sports and for gay rights, and to have been embraced by the public, the coaches, the players, the league and history.”

Collins pointed out that Wednesday is the perfect night to do it because Brooklyn will be taking on the Milwaukee Bucks, a team that is coached by former NBA player and teammate Jason Kidd. It was Kidd who helped give Collins the strength and encouragement to come out as a homosexual. It was Kidd who ensured there would never be any problems with players or personnel in the locker room, something that many feared would happen to Collins once he announced he was gay.

“It was Jason who cheered my decision to come out by posting on Twitter: ‘Jason’s sexuality doesn’t change the fact that he is a great friend and was a great teammate,’” Collins continued to write.

Collins is a pioneer for all gay men and women in sports. It was his confidence that has allowed other athletes in a similar position to come out. It also gave Michael Sam, who became the first openly gay player drafted by the NFL earlier this year, the strength to tell the world who he truly is as a person. More importantly, it has allowed gay men and women a level of comfort that they have never had before, which shows how far sports have come.

Even though Collins will be retired, it does not mean he will be going away. Do not be surprised to see him assist other athletes as they attempt to make the transition to becoming open about their sexual orientation.

Michael Terrill is a Senior Writer for Rant Sports. Follow him on Twitter @MichaelTerrill, “Like” him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google.

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