First openly gay player in major US sport

Cosmic Maybe

This can only be good.

NBA center Jason Collins becomes first openly gay player in major US sports

LegacyUser

I'd like to see more Irish on this list: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_lesbian,_gay,_bisexual,_and_transgender_sportspeople

JupiterKid

Long, long overdue but better late than never.

Hopefully this will mark the coming out of more gay athletes/sportsmen over the coming year.

Annasopra

The article he wrote is inspiring

http://m.si.com/2854664/an-nba-player-comes-out/

pragmatic1

He's not the first. He's the first to come out while still playing professionally. There have been loads of basketball, baseball and American football stars that have come out of the closet over the years.

Cosmic Maybe

pragmatic1 wrote: »

He's not the first. He's the first to come out while still playing professionally. There have been loads of basketball, baseball and American football stars that have come out of the closet over the years.

I wouldn't say there's been "loads" but you're right there have been a few, as we all know. This does seem to be really big news though, RTE even had it in their main news bulletins on the radio this morning and Obama released a statement about it! I think the reason it's so significant is that he's still playing a team sport which would be viewed by a lot of people as fairly "macho." His coming out disproves a lot of negative stereotypes and assumptions - mainly that gay men can't play sport and it also shows the whole "locker room" issue to be a load of crap! Personally, I have next to no interest in sport unless Ireland or Westmeath are winning (which is very rare) but I find stories like this to be very inspirational. Before today I'd never heard of Jason Collins. I'll still have next to no interest in his career but I'll definitely feel a little bit of pride whenever I see his name, the same as I do whenever I see anything about Gareth Thomas, Steven Davies or Donal Og Cusack. Personally, I think that's whats most important about stories like this.

Aurongroove

Very well Done!!

Lyaiera

Cosmic Maybe wrote: »

I'll still have next to no interest in his career but I'll definitely feel a little bit of pride whenever I see his name, the same as I do whenever I see anything about Gareth Thomas, Steven Davies or Donal Og Cusack. Personally, I think that's whats most important about stories like this.

Don't forget Nigel Owens, the rugby referee. He comes in for a lot of bashing and abuse due to his position and he takes it with grace and in good nature and is always diplomatic. Sometimes some idiots step into homophobic territory as happened recently after the Munster match and it's always impressive to see people defend him and call out the homophobes minutes after they've been giving out to Nigel for terrible calls on the pitch.

periodictable

great article

http://www.thestranger.com/seattle/jason-collins-is-the-envy-of-straight-men-everywhere/Content?oid=16638642

batistuta9

this is an amateur football club from France, who might be of interest to people here
Paris Foot Gay

belcampprisoner

what about hiv

the_syco

belcampprisoner wrote: »

what about hiv

Where the f**k did you get "HIV" from? Is it some sort of homophobic remark based on the man being gay?

Pug160

That's interesting that he's gay but still chose a white girlfriend. It perhaps supports the theory that a lot of black guys choose white women to higher their perceived social status.

Annasopra

belcampprisoner wrote: »

what about hiv

What about it?