NBA Star Comes Out Of The Closet: “I’m Black & I’m Gay”

Written By S. Samuel

NBA basketball player Jason Collins has made a gigantic leap for the gay community by revealing his interest in same-sex relations in an exclusive interview with Sports Illustrated.

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According to reports, Collins’ annoucement makes him the first active NBA player to reveal his sexual preference for men.

Washington Wizards center Jason Collins — who’s been playing in the NBA since 2001 — has revealed he’s gay … making him the first major active American male pro athlete to come out of the closet . Collins revealed the news in an article for Sports Illustrated … saying, “I’m a 34-year-old NBA center. I’m black. And I’m gay.” He continued, “I didn’t set out to be the first openly gay athlete playing in a major American team sport. But since I am, I’m happy to start the conversation.” (TMZ)

Collins said he initially broke the news to his twin brother last year.

Collins — and his twin brother Jarron — have been high profile athletes since high school … when they were two of the highest rated prep players in the country. They both went on to become standouts at Stanford … and were each drafted into the NBA in 2001. Jason says he didn’t come out to his twin until last summer. “I’m glad I can stop hiding and refocus on my 13th NBA season.” (TMZ)

In the Sports Illustrated feature, Collins also reveals he is a free agent after spending last season with the Washington Wizards.

Now I’m a free agent, literally and figuratively. I’ve reached that enviable state in life in which I can do pretty much what I want. And what I want is to continue to play basketball. I still love the game, and I still have something to offer. My coaches and teammates recognize that. At the same time, I want to be genuine and authentic and truthful.” (Sports Illustrated)

A few days ago, West Coast rapper Snoop Dogg weighed in on the rap community not being open to gay hip-hop artists and even referenced the same situation happening in sports.

“I don’t have a problem with it. It’s the mentality of the rap generation. The mentality of the rap generation is masculine. Macho,” Snoop explained in an interview. “That’s like having a football player playing in games, and all of a sudden at the end of the season he tells you, ‘Hey, you know I’m gay, guys. I like you, too.’ It’s a different feeling as opposed to saying it up front and early and you dealing with it.” (“Big Morning Buzz Live”)

A couple weeks ago, Grammy-winning singer T-Pain also spoke out in defense of same-sex relations.

After his assistant was bullied online, rapper T-Pain dissed the haters with a tweet reminding everyone that gay men don’t lust after every single guy in the world. “Attention homophobic idiots: if you’re not attractive to straight women, you’re probably not attractive to gay men. You can unclench now,” T-Pain posted on Twitter. “Just see a lot of ppl lookin at my assistant like ‘oh no better not go that way. That guy wants my butt.’ Don’t be an idiot. Ur still fugly.” (New Now Next)

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Written by S. Samuel

Steven Samuel is the co-founder of SOHH.com.

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