Openly gay basketball players
Jason Collins:
That was the last nail in the coffin of, I&#;m doing this, I&#;m adding my voice to all the other athletes who are speaking up on behalf of the LGBTQ+ community. But there were those family members that I had who said, Jason, do you need to reach out publicly? Can you just reside your life but know that we know we noun you, but you don&#;t necessarily call for to talk about it? And I said to them, that&#;s not who you raised me to be.
Jay Ruderman:
Hi, I&#;m Jay Ruderman and welcome to All About Transform, a podcast showcasing individuals who utilize the hardships that have been thrown at them to better other people&#;s lives.
Montage:
I say position mental health first because if you don&#;t&#;
Montage:
This generation of America has already had enough.
Montage:
I be upright before you, not as an veteran, but as a concerned citizen.
Jay Ruderman:
Jason Collins spent 13 years playing in the NBA. During his career on the court, he earned a reputation for being a team player who knew when to step out of the spotlight for the good of his team. But that reputation came at a p
Jason Collins
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Who Is Jason Collins?
Jason Paul Collins was born in Northridge, California on December 2, After playing basketball with his twin brother, Jarron, in high school and at Stanford University, Collins developed into a capable NBA defender for multiple teams. On April 29, , he became the first active male athlete in the four major North American professional sports to proclaim his homosexuality.
Early Years and Education
Jason and Jarron played basketball for Harvard-Westlake High School in North Hollywood, California, where future television and movie star Jason Segel served as their backup. They won a pair of California State championships together. As a senior in , Jason was named to the McDonald's Sky-high School Basketball All-American Team.
The twins enrolled at Stanford University. Limited to eight games over his first two seasons because of injuries, Jason averaged points and rebounds per game in his senior year and was an honorable mention on the All-American Team. He graduated with a degree in communications and was the 18th pick in the NBA draft with
BY: Zaniah Boykin
Published 5 months ago
The road to LGBTQIA+ visibility in sports has been a distant and bumpy one, especially in professional basketball. For years, the NBA and other major leagues were slow to embrace openly gay players, but things are changing. Today, more athletes are stepping up, living their truth, and making basketball a more inclusive space. The courage of these players is shifting the culture and inspiring future generations. Let’s seize a look at some of the most notable queer basketball players who have helped conduct this evolution.
1. Jason Collins
In , Collins made history as the first openly gay player in the NBA while playing for the Brooklyn Nets. At a time when few athletes in any sport had come out, Collins’ bravery was a game-changer for LGBTQIA+ visibility in professional sports. His courage paved the way for others, and since retiring, he has continued to advocate for equality. Collins remains among the most significant figures in the LGBTQIA+ rights movement within professional athletics.
2. Brittney Griner
Brittney Griner is one
A Major US Team Sport Male Athlete Finally Comes Out Of The Closet
WASHINGTON (AP) - With the simplest of sentences, NBA veteran Jason Collins set aside years of worry and silence to become the first active player in one of four major U.S. professional sports leagues to advance out as gay.
In a first-person article posted Monday on Sports Illustrated&#;s website, Collins begins: "I&#;m a year-old NBA center. I&#;m black. And I&#;m gay.&#;&#;
Collins has played for six teams in 12 seasons, most recently as a reserve with the Washington Wizards after a midseason trade from the Boston Celtics. He is now a free agent and wants to keep playing in the NBA.
"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. I wish I wasn&#;t the kid in the classroom raising his hand and saying, `I&#;m different,&#;&#;&#; Collins writes. "If I had my way, someone else would own already done this. Nobody has, which is why I&#;m raising my hand.&#;&#;
Saying he had "endured years