Magic Johnson on Learng to Accept His Gay Son EJ: 'He Changed Me' - Variety

Contents:

• MAGIC JOHNSON ON LEARNG TO ACCEPT HIS GAY SON: 'HE CHANGED ME'
• MAGIC JOHNSON TALKS ABOUT G TO LOVE HIS GAY SON
• MAGIC JOHNSON OPENS UP ABOUT LEARNG TO ACCEPT HIS GAY SON
• MAGIC JOHNSON OPENS UP ABOUT GAY SON
• MAGIC JOHNSON ON LEARNG TO ACCEPT HIS GAY SON EJ: ‘HE CHANGED ME’

MAGIC JOHNSON ON LEARNG TO ACCEPT HIS GAY SON: 'HE CHANGED ME'

“Very European, ” says EJ Johnson, the son of Magic Johnson, as he rells when he me out as gay to his father. I’m gay, but I didn’t want to tell my parents.

Magic Johnson’s offered nothg but love and support when he was first publicly asked about his gay son.

EJ says his parents were the last people to know he was gay. At that pot, the vis was still monly viewed as a gay problem.

MAGIC JOHNSON TALKS ABOUT G TO LOVE HIS GAY SON

“Along the way Magic enuntered the same sort of prejudice and discrimatn that many gay men had to al wh, but not once do I rell Magic nouncg the gay muny orr to ‘clear his name, ’” wrote gay Los Angel sportswrer LZ Granrson 2008.

And when his son EJ me out publicly as gay more than 20 years later, the Johnson fay add another meangul layer of visibily to their public EJ’s journey to fdg acceptance wh his fay wasn’t easy. News alum said a jot terview wh his father for Variety, ahead of the April 22 release of They Call Me Magic, an Apple TV Pl doceri about the former NBA player’s life and, who voic the character Michael Colls on The Proud Fay: Lour and Prour reboot, said that he had e out as gay to his iends before openg up to his parents. ”Gay dads?

"Johnson's son me out as gay to his parents 2010 — a revelatn that the NBA legend later admted was difficult for him to accept.

MAGIC JOHNSON OPENS UP ABOUT LEARNG TO ACCEPT HIS GAY SON

EJ was outed as gay by TMZ 2013 before starrg the E!

MAGIC JOHNSON OPENS UP ABOUT GAY SON

Over the years, Magic and Cookie have been open about their rponsibili as parents — like when Magic told Ellen DeGener that he was "so happy" when their son EJ me out as gay.

EJ publicly me out as gay 2013, though he me out to his fay several years earlier. In 2014, EJ told PEOPLE that, although his parents "pretty much already knew" that he was gay, they were worried about the public's reactn.

He has also been a gut star on Real Hbands of Hollywood and lent his voice to the Disney animated seri The Proud Fay: Lour and by Slaven Vlasic/Getty Imag for “To Kill A Mockgbird”“When my son me out, I was so happy for him and happy for as parents”EJ reportedly me out as gay 2013, and Magic and his wife have been credibly supportive of his journey.

MAGIC JOHNSON ON LEARNG TO ACCEPT HIS GAY SON EJ: ‘HE CHANGED ME’

Magic Johnson is not jt leadg a legacy on the urt, but also the hearts of Gabrielle Unn and Dwyane an April 21 terview wh Entertament Tonight, Gabrielle and Dwyane touched on how Cookie Johnson and Magic's actns as parents to their son EJ Johnson—who publicly me out as gay 2013—helped shape their journey wh Zaya Wa, 14, who publicly me out as transgenr 2020. In 2013, Johnson's son EJ publicly me out as gay, and the seri explor how the basketball in's ial reactn was not one of acceptance. Days after Magic Johnson publicly announced his support for his openly gay son, the basketball legend is openg up about when he learned his son was gay, the backlash sce the news broke and what he thks about athlet g out.

Johnson said fay members were prepared for the negative reactn, but they are more foced on the good that may e out of this, cludg more lbians and gays g out to their parents as well as gay athlet steppg out of the closet. “Very European, ” says EJ Johnson, the son of Magic Johnson, as he rells when he me out as gay to his father.