Jason Colls, first openly gay NBA player, reflects on legacy, life after basketball | PBS NewsHour

first openly gay professional basketball player

Two athlet recently g out has highlighted the arth of openly gay players the world of U.S. men's profsnal sports, often dubbed "the last closet" for s lack of LGBTQ reprentatn.

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JASON COLLS, FIRST OPENLY GAY ATHLETE TO PLAY NBA, MAK U.S. SPORTS HISTORY

After a 13-year reer the NBA, Jason Colls, the first openly gay profsnal basketball player, is retirg. Eighteen months ago Colls me out as gay through a first person article published Sports Illtrated. In the first le he wrote, “I am a 34-year old NBA center. I’m black. And I’m gay.” He announced his plans to retire today, aga through first person, this time on The Players’ Tribune. * first openly gay professional basketball player *

On Febary 23, 2014, Brooklyn Nets center Jason Colls be the first openly gay athlete to play a game the Uned Stat’ four major profsnal leagu.

The 35-year-old journeyman plays 10 srels mut, rerdg two rebounds and five fouls the Nets’ 108-102 victory over the Los Angel May 2013, Colls revealed he is gay a first-person say  Sports Illtrated.

JASON COLLS, FIRST OPENLY GAY NBA PLAYER, REFLECTS ON LEGACY, LIFE AFTER BASKETBALL

There have only been two openly gay NBA players. Jason Colls beme the first active player to e out 2013. John Amaechi me out 2007 after he retired. * first openly gay professional basketball player *

And I'm gay, " he wrote. "I didn't set out to be the first openly gay athlete playg a major Amerin team sport.

THE ONLY 3 OUT, GAY NBA PLAYERS IN HISTORY

The gay athlet have broken through the noise to fd they n be accepted as gay athlet basketball. * first openly gay professional basketball player *

In 2021, Las Vegas Rairs fensive leman Carl Nassib beme the first active NFL player to announce he is gay.

HERE ARE THE 6 GAY MEN WHO HAVE BEEN OUT PUBLICLY WHILE PETG PRO BASKETBALL

* first openly gay professional basketball player *

After a 13-year reer the NBA, Jason Colls, the first openly gay profsnal basketball player, is retirg. Eighteen months ago Colls me out as gay through a first person article published Sports Illtrated. And I’m gay.

“The ironic thg about the dread “D” word is that I had never felt more fortable playg basketball than I was as an openly gay man, ” he wrote. Colls’ retirement means there will be no openly gay player currently playg any of the four major U.

Addrsg the lack of openly gay players, Colls wrote that we are not “there” yet when to acceptg openly gay players major league sports. He was the first openly gay active player the U. While there may be closeted gay nba players, there have only been three openly gay players.

WHY THERE ARE FEW OPENLY GAY ATHLET IN MEN'S PROFSNAL SPORTS

Rairs fensive end Carl Nassib publicly me out June 2021, makg him the first openly gay man to actively play the NFL. * first openly gay professional basketball player *

Jason CollsCareerComg OutJon AmaechiCareer Comg Out Isaac HumphriCareerComg OutAre There Closeted Gay NBA Players?

Summary: Gay NBA Players. He lled Carolyn years later to tell her he was gay.

JASON COLLS SAYS HE'S GAY

One ESPN mentator, Chris Brosard, exprsed both his admiratn for Colls’ bravery and his belief that Colls uld not be both gay and christian. Tennis great Marta Navratilova, who had somewhat unbelievably e out 1981, praised Colls and exprsed her hope that this would help end homophobia team sports and lead to more players g out.

As of the wrg of this article, Colls is the last gay NBA player to e out. Colls beme the first, and still only, active gay NBA player when he signed wh the Broolyn Nets Febary of 2014.

John Amaechi was the first gay NBA player to e out, but he did so after he had retired om the league. In the book and the terview, Amaechi me out as a gay man. The difference reactn between Ameachi’s and Colls’ statements is a sign of the growth acceptance of gay people between 2007 and 2013.

JASON COLLS, FIRST OPENLY GAY N.B.A. PLAYER, SIGNS WH NETS AND APPEARS GAME

Barkley said he was sure he had played both wh and agast gay players and should not be viewed as a big al. Lebron Jam said “Wh teammat you have to be tstworthy, and if you’re gay and you’re not admtg that you are, then you are not tstworthy”.

‘A WEIGHT OFF MY SHOULRS': ARGENTA'S FIRST OPENLY GAY BASKETBALL STAR ON G OUT

Others were crass wh Shavlik Randolph sayg “As long as you don’t brg your gayns on me I’m fe”.

The strongt reactn me om Tim Hardaway who said: “Well, you know, I hate gay people, so I let be known. I don’t like gay people, and I don’t like to be around gay people.

*BEAR-MAGAZINE.COM* FIRST OPENLY GAY PROFESSIONAL BASKETBALL PLAYER

The Only 3 Out, Gay NBA Players In History - Sports Nostalgia HQ .

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