Basketball’s Jason Collins Steps Up to Be First Professional Player to Come Out
The coming out manifesto from free agent NBA center Jason Collins, published by Sports Illustrated, shows how far the struggle for equality and dignity for people of all sexual orientations has come.*
Collins waited for another major league team sports professional to be the first to tell the world he or she was gay. None have.
I didn’t set out to be the first openly gay athlete playing in a major American team sport…I wish I wasn’t the kid in the classroom raising his hand and saying, “I’m different.” If I had my way, someone else would have already done this. Nobody has, which is why I’m raising my hand.
Collins says he decided the time was right after becoming a free agent, after the Boston marathon bombings, and after watching his straight friend, Rep. Joe Kennedy, march in a gay rights parade — while he stood on the sidelines.
I’m seldom jealous of others, but hearing what Joe had done filled me with envy. I was proud of him for participating but angry that as a closeted gay man I couldn’t even cheer my straight friend on as a spectator. If I’d been questioned, I would have concocted half truths. What a shame to have to lie at a celebration of pride.
He also wanted to beat the gossip sites to the punch.
My maternal grandmother was apprehensive about my plans to come out…She worries that I am opening myself up to prejudice and hatred. I explained to her that in a way, my coming out is preemptive. I shouldn’t have to live under the threat of being outed. The announcement should be mine to make, not TMZ’s.
*Update: A search on Twitter for the words, “Jason Collins faggot” shows how far we have yet to go.
