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NBA player steps out of the closet and into the history
books
By Katie Morell
05.07.13

Jason Collins, a professional basketball player, came out as a gay man this week in an essay he
wrote for Sports Illustrated.
News spread quickly as the magnitude of the announcement set in: Collins will forever be known
as the first active player in one of the four major U.S. professional sports to come out of the
closet. Every news station in the country picked up the story, quoting his magazine essay, which
began, I'm a 34-year-old NBA center. I'm black. And I'm gay. I didnt set out to be the first
openly gay athlete playing in a major American team sport. But since I am, Im happy to start the
conversation.
Collins has played for six different NBA teams, including the Boston Celtics and the Atlanta
Hawks.
In the nearly 3,000-word essay, Collins explained that he first knew he was gay when he was just
12 years old and his twin brother was developing an interest in the opposite sex.
I couldnt identify with his attraction to girls, he wrote. He also explained that he never felt as
whole as a person as when he came out to his aunt, a judge in San Francisco. Her reaction was
warm and loving and from then on, he knew he would always have support.
Bombings Triggered Decision
The tragic bombings during the Boston Marathon on April 15 partially inspired Collins to make
his announcement. The incident, Reinforced the notion that I shouldnt wait for the
circumstances of my coming out to be perfect. Things can change in an instant, so why not live
truthfully? Collins wrote.
The recent Supreme Court fight for gay rights also weighed heavily on Collins mind. The strain
of hiding his sexuality was almost too much for him to bear in March when the high court heard
arguments on rights for homosexual individuals.
Collins decided to come out because of a noticeable shift in public opinion. More and more,
Americans seem to be increasingly tolerant of gay rights, he said in his essay. Rhode Island

became the tenth U.S. state to legalize gay marriage on Thursday. Now all six New England
states allow same-sex couples to wed. Delaware became the 11th state to do so on Tuesday.
We still have so much farther to go, he wrote. Everyone is terrified of the unknown, but most
of us dont want to return to a time when minorities were openly discriminated against.
Positive Public Reaction
Since the release of his Sports Illustrated essay, Collins has received an outpouring of positive
support. Just hours after the story broke, he received a call from President Barack Obama
commending him on his courage.
He seems like a terrific young man, and I told him I couldnt be prouder, the President told
CNN. One of the extraordinary measures of progress that weve seen in this country has been
the recognition that the LGBT community deserves full equality not just partial equality, not
just tolerance, but a recognition that theyre fully a part of the American family.
Collins wrote that he wasnt sure what the reaction of his fellow basket players would be. But if
the news this week has been any indication, he has nothing to worry about. NBA stars Kobe
Bryant and Steve Nash of the Los Angeles Lakers went to Twitter to show their support.
Bryant tweeted, Proud of @jasoncollins34. Dont suffocate who u r because of the ignorance of
others; while Nash wrote: The time has come. Maximum respect.
Breaking stereotypes
Collins has proved to be an aggressive and physical player on the court over his 12 seasons as a
professional basketball player. In the 2004-2005 season alone, he led the NBA with 322 fouls. As
he explains in his essay, this aggressive behavior goes against stereotypes of gay men.
Im not afraid to take on any opponent. I go against the gay stereotype, which is why I think a
lot of players will be shocked: That guy is gay? But Ive always been an aggressive player, even
in high school, he writes.
First, But Not the Last
Among editorials following Collins declaration, one penned by Michael Rosenberg of Sports
Illustrated stands out. He writes that while Collins may be the first professional athlete to come
out, he will not be the last.
Heck, someday we may even argue about whether he was first, wrote Rosenberg. Jason
Collins is a trailblazer. But in the next few years, that trail will get awfully crowded.
He shares Collins view that most Americans are coming around to the idea of gay rights and that
widespread tolerance is just around the corner.
Rosenberg also addresses some critics on behalf of Collins, including an NFL player who
tweeted a negative remark following Collins announcement. Rosenberg noted that not only did
the tweeting football player receive a mountain of angry backlash, but also that he deleted his
tweet and publicly apologize for his comments.
He [Collins] didnt have to respond people responded for him, Rosenberg said.
Achieving Happiness

On Tuesday morning, Collins sat down with George Stephanopoulos of Good Morning America
to discuss the announcement. Smiling, he told Stephanopoulos, I think, I know, in my personal
life, Im ready, and I think the country is ready for supporting an openly gay basketball player.
I know that I, right now, am the happiest that Ive ever been in my life.