Magic Johnson on learng to accept his gay son: 'He changed me'

Contents:

• MAGIC JOHNSON ON LEARNG TO ACCEPT HIS GAY SON: 'HE CHANGED ME'
• MAGIC JOHNSON SAYS HE SUPPORTS GAY SON EJ 'A LN PERCENT': 'THIS IS REALLY WONRFUL FOR HIM'
• MAGIC JOHNSON SAYS SON EJ G OUT AS GAY 'CHANGED' HIM: 'HE WAS JT SO PROUD'
• NBA STAR MAGIC JOHNSON'S OPENLY GAY SON THANKS HIS DAD FOR SUPPORTG HIS COMG OUT
• JASON {LOR:#595959;FONT-FAY:GILROY,HELVETI,ARIAL,SANS-SERIF;FONT-WEIGHT:600;MARG-BOTTOM:0.625REM;}@MEDIA(MAX-WIDTH: 48REM){{FONT-SIZE:0.875REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.2;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 48REM){{FONT-SIZE:1.25REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.2;}} A{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN-THICKNS:0.0625REM;TEXT-RATN-LOR:HER;TEXT-UNRLE-OFFSET:0.25REM;LOR:HER;-WEBK-TRANSN:ALL 0.3S EASE--OUT;TRANSN:ALL 0.3S EASE--OUT;} A:HOVER{LOR:#A00000;TEXT-RATN-LOR:BORR-LK-BODY-HOVER;}AMERIN PROFSNAL BASKETBALL PLAYER JASON COLLS BEME THE FIRST ACTIVE OPENLY GAY MALE ATHLETE THE FOUR MAJOR NORTH AMERIN PROFSNAL {MARG-BOTTOM:0.625REM;PADDG-RIGHT:0.3125REM;LOR:#323232;FONT-FAY:GILROY,HELVETI,ARIAL,SANS-SERIF;FONT-SIZE:0.75REM;LE-HEIGHT:1;FONT-WEIGHT:800;} SPAN{LE-HEIGHT:1.6;FONT-FAY:GILROY,HELVETI,ARIAL,SANS-SERIF;}{FONT-STYLE:NORMAL;PADDG-RIGHT:0.3125REM;FONT-FAY:RALAS,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;LOR:#323232;FONT-SIZE:0.75REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.3;FONT-WEIGHT:BOLD;TEXT-TRANSFORM:PALIZE;}{PADDG-RIGHT:0.3125REM;FONT-FAY:RALAS,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;LOR:#323232;FONT-SIZE:0.75REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.3;FONT-WEIGHT:BOLD;TEXT-TRANSFORM:PALIZE;}BY {DISPLAY:LE-BLOCK;TEXT-TRANSFORM:UPPERSE;MARG-LEFT:0.625REM;FONT-FAY:GILROY,HELVETI,ARIAL,SANS-SERIF;FONT-SIZE:0.75REM;LE-HEIGHT:1;FONT-WEIGHT:800;}UPDATED: NOV 2, {DISPLAY:-WEBK-BOX;DISPLAY:-WEBK-FLEX;DISPLAY:-MS-FLEXBOX;DISPLAY:FLEX;}{MARG-BOTTOM:0.9375REM;POSN:RELATIVE;}@MEDIA(MAX-WIDTH: 64REM){{MAX-WIDTH:LC(100VW - (1REM * 2));MARG-LEFT:1REM;MARG-RIGHT:1REM;} .E152U5OS0{WIDTH:100VW;MARG-LEFT:LC(-1 * 1REM);}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 48REM) AND (MAX-WIDTH: 61.25REM){{MARG-LEFT:TO;MARG-RIGHT:TO;} .E152U5OS0{WIDTH:100VW;MARG-LEFT:LC((100VW - (LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM) - 2 * 1REM)) / -2);}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 61.25REM) AND (MAX-WIDTH: 90REM){{MAX-WIDTH:LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM);MARG-LEFT:LC((100VW - LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM) - 1REM - 20.625REM) / 2);PADDG-LEFT:1REM;PADDG-RIGHT:1REM;} .E152U5OS0{WIDTH:100VW;MARG-LEFT:LC(LC((100VW - LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM) - 1REM - 20.625REM) / -2) - 1REM);}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 90REM){{MARG-LEFT:LC((100VW - LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM)) / 2);MAX-WIDTH:LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM);PADDG-LEFT:1REM;PADDG-RIGHT:1REM;} .E152U5OS0{WIDTH:100VW;MARG-LEFT:LC(LC((100VW - LC(20.625REM * 2 + 1REM)) / -2) - LC(2 * 1REM));}[DATA-HAS-SPONSOR] {MARG-LEFT:LC((100VW - LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM)) / 4);MARG-RIGHT:LC((100VW - LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM)) / 4);}}{JTIFY-SELF:CENTER;POSN:RELATIVE;}@MEDIA(MAX-WIDTH: 48REM){{MARG-LEFT:-50VW;MARG-RIGHT:-50VW;WIDTH:100VW;LEFT:50%;RIGHT:50%;}}{HEIGHT:TO;}@MEDIA(MAX-WIDTH: 48REM){{MARG:TO LC(50% - 50VW);}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 48REM){{MARG:TO;}}{POSN:RELATIVE;HEIGHT:TO;}{POSN:RELATIVE;--POSN:ABSOLUTE;HEIGHT:TO;} IMG{MAX-WIDTH:100%;HEIGHT:TO;} A{POSN:ABSOLUTE;}{POSN:RELATIVE;WIDTH:100%;HEIGHT:100%;OBJECT-F:VER;VERTIL-ALIGN:TOP;}{BACKGROUND:#C92228;BOTTOM:0;PADDG:.5REM;RIGHT:0;}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 64REM){{PADDG:0.39REM;}}{DISPLAY:BLOCK;HEIGHT:1REM;WIDTH:1REM;}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 64REM){{WIDTH:1.063REM;HEIGHT:1.063REM;}}{LE-HEIGHT:1;MARG-TOP:0.3125REM;}@MEDIA(MAX-WIDTH: 73.75REM){{PADDG-LEFT:0.9375REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 64REM){{PADDG-LEFT:0;}}{PADDG-RIGHT:0.3125REM;LOR:#595959;FONT-FAY:GILROY,HELVETI,ARIAL,SANS-SERIF;FONT-SIZE:0.75REM;LE-HEIGHT:1;FONT-WEIGHT:800;}GETTY IMAG / NBA PHOTOS / {FONT-FAY:CHARTER,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;FONT-SIZE:1.1875REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.6;PADDG-LEFT:0REM;PADDG-RIGHT:0REM;POSN:RELATIVE;}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 48REM){{PADDG-LEFT:3.5REM;PADDG-RIGHT:3.5REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 48REM) AND (MAX-WIDTH: 61.25REM){{MAX-WIDTH:45.25REM;MARG-LEFT:TO;MARG-RIGHT:TO;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 61.25REM){{PADDG-LEFT:0REM;PADDG-RIGHT:0REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 73.75REM) AND (MAX-WIDTH: 100REM){{PADDG-LEFT:0REM;PADDG-RIGHT:0REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 90REM){{PADDG-LEFT:0REM;PADDG-RIGHT:0REM;}} EM{FONT-STYLE:ALIC;FONT-FAY:CHARTER,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;} STRONG{FONT-FAY:CHARTER,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;FONT-WEIGHT:BOLD;}{CLEAR:BOTH;NTENT:" ";DISPLAY:BLOCK;FONT-SIZE:0.7REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.5REM;HEIGHT:0REM;VISIBILY:HIDN;}{FONT-FAY:CHARTER,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;FONT-SIZE:1.1875REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.6;} STRONG{FONT-FAY:CHARTER,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;FONT-WEIGHT:BOLD;} EM{FONT-STYLE:ALIC;FONT-FAY:CHARTER,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;}(1978-){LOR:#323232;FONT-FAY:GILROY,HELVETI,ARIAL,SANS-SERIF;FONT-WEIGHT:800;LETTER-SPACG:0.02EM;MARG-BOTTOM:0.625REM;MARG-TOP:0.625REM;}@MEDIA(MAX-WIDTH: 48REM){{FONT-SIZE:1.875REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.1;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 48REM){{FONT-SIZE:2REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.1;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 64REM){{FONT-SIZE:2REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.1;}} B, STRONG{FONT-FAY:HER;FONT-WEIGHT:BOLD;} EM, I{FONT-FAY:HER;FONT-STYLE:ALIC;}WHO IS JASON COLLS? JASON PL COLLS WAS BORN NORTHRIDGE, CALIFORNIA ON DECEMBER 2, 1978. AFTER PLAYG BASKETBALL WH HIS TW BROTHER, JARRON, HIGH SCHOOL AND AT STANFORD UNIVERSY, COLLS VELOPED TO A PABLE NBA FENR FOR MULTIPLE TEAMS. ON APRIL 29, 2013, HE BEME THE FIRST ACTIVE MALE ATHLETE THE FOUR MAJOR NORTH AMERIN PROFSNAL SPORTS TO PROCLAIM HIS HOMOSEXUALY.EARLY YEARS AND EDUTNJASON AND JARRON PLAYED BASKETBALL FOR HARVARD-WTLAKE HIGH SCHOOL NORTH HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA, WHERE FUTURE TELEVISN AND MOVIE STAR JASON SEGEL SERVED AS THEIR BACKUP. THEY WON A PAIR OF CALIFORNIA STATE CHAMPNSHIPS TOGETHER. AS A SENR 1997, JASON WAS NAMED TO THE MCDONALD'S HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL ALL-AMERIN TEAM. THE TWS ENROLLED AT STANFORD UNIVERSY. LIMED TO EIGHT GAM OVER HIS FIRST TWO SEASONS BEE OF JURI, JASON AVERAGED 14.5 POTS AND 7.5 REBOUNDS PER GAME HIS SENR YEAR AND WAS AN HONORABLE MENTN ON THE ALL-AMERIN TEAM. HE GRADUATED WH A GREE MUNITNS AND WAS THE 18TH PICK THE 2001 NBA DRAFT WH THE NEW JERSEY NETS.NBA CAREERCOLLS NEVER BEME A STAR THE NBA, BUT AT A ROCK-SOLID 7'0" AND 255 POUNDS, HE FEND THE LEAGUE'S BT AND LARGT PLAYERS AND LOGGED REGULAR MUT FOR THE NETS TEAMS THAT REACHED THE NBA FALS 2002 AND '03. HE HAD HIS BT SEASON 2004-05 WHEN HE AVERAGED 6.4 POTS AND 6.1 REBOUNDS PER GAME, BUT HE ALSO HAD A LEAGUE-HIGH 322 PERSONAL FOULS.COLLS PLAYED WH THE MEMPHIS GRIZZLI EARLY 2008, THEN SPENT THE FOLLOWG SEASON WH THE MNOTA TIMBERWOLV. HE FOUND A HOME WH THE ATLANTA HAWKS FOR THE NEXT THREE SEASONS, PROVIDG HIS UAL TOUGH FENSE OFF THE BENCH TO HELP THEM REACH THE PLAYOFFS EACH TIME. HE PLAYED SPARGLY DURG THE 2012-13 SEASON FOR THE BOSTON CELTICS AND WASHGTON WIZARDS, AVERAGG JT 1.1 POTS AND 1.6 REBOUNDS PER GAME, BEFORE BEG A EE AGENT.IN 2014, COLLS SIGNED A 10-DAY NTRACT WH THE BROOKLYN NETS, OFFICIALLY MAKG HIM THE FIRST OPENLY GAY ATHLETE TO SIGN WH A U.S. PROFSNAL SPORTS TEAM. LATER THAT YEAR, COLLS AGA SIGNED A 10-DAY AL WH THE NETS THAT WAS EXTEND THROUGH THE RT OF THE SEASON. ON NOVEMBER 19, 2014, COLLS ANNOUNCED HIS RETIREMENT OM PROFSNAL BASKETBALL. HE PLAYED 13 SEASONS THE NBA.COMG OUT ON APRIL 29, 2013, THE TER L UP WH THE REVELATN THAT COLLS WAS GAY, MAKG HIM THE FIRST OPENLY GAY ACTIVE MALE ATHLETE THE FOUR MAJOR NORTH AMERIN SPORTS. IN AN ARTICLE RELEASED THE MAY 6 ISSUE OF SPORTS ILLTRATED, COLLS MA HIS OFFICIAL ANNOUNCEMENT AND EXPLAED HIS REASONG FOR G OUT WHEN HE DID: HAVG GROWN TIRED OF GUARDG HIS SECRET FOR YEARS, HE WAS TRATED WHEN HE ULD NOT JO HIS FORMER ROOMMATE, MASSACHETTS CONGRSMAN JOSEPH KENNEDY III, AND PARTICIPATE BOSTON'S 2012 GAY PRI PARA. FURTHERMORE, HE SAID, THE RECENT BOMBGS AT THE BOSTON MARATHON MA HIM REALIZE THE IMPERMANENCE OF EVERYDAY LIFE AND THE IMPORTANCE OF LIVG TTHFULLY.IN THE WAKE OF THE ANNOUNCEMENT, NBA STARS SUCH AS {-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN-THICKNS:0.0625REM;TEXT-RATN-LOR:HER;TEXT-UNRLE-OFFSET:0.25REM;LOR:#A00000;-WEBK-TRANSN:ALL 0.3S EASE--OUT;TRANSN:ALL 0.3S EASE--OUT;}{LOR:#595959;TEXT-RATN-LOR:BORR-LK-BODY-HOVER;}KOBE BRYANT AND STEVE NASH TWEETED THEIR SUPPORT. WHE HOE SPOKMAN JAY CARNEY LD COLLS'S STATEMENT AS A URAGEO ACT, AND FORMER U.S. PRINT BILL CLTON, WHOSE DGHTER, CHELSEA, ATTEND STANFORD WH COLLS, WROTE THAT THE BASKETBALL STAR'S WORDS WERE "THE STRAIGHTFORWARD STATEMENT OF A GOOD MAN WHO WANTS NO MORE THAN WHAT SO MANY OF SEEK: TO BE ABLE TO BE WHO WE ARE; TO DO OUR WORK; TO BUILD FAI AND TO NTRIBUTE TO OUR MUNI."PERSONAL LIFE COLLS WAS ENGAGED TO HIS EX-GIRLIEND, FORMER WNBA PLAYER CAROLYN MOOS, BEFORE HE UNEXPECTEDLY LLED OFF THEIR WEDDG 2009. THE SAME DAY THE SPORTS ILLTRATED STORY RAN 2013, COLLS LLED MOOS TO TELL HER HE WAS GAY. IT WAS THE FIRST TIME THE TWO HAD DISCSED THE MATTER. COLLS HAS BEEN DATG OSR-NOMATED PRODUCER BNSON GREEN AS EARLY AS 2014. {BORR:0;BORR-BOTTOM:TH SOLID BLACK;MARG:1.875REM 0;CLEAR:BOTH;}QUICK {FONT-FAY:CHARTER,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;FONT-SIZE:1.1875REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.6;MARG:0.9375REM 0 0 0.625REM;PADDG:0 0 0 1.25REM;}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 48REM){{MARG:0.9375REM 0;}} B, STRONG{FONT-FAY:HER;FONT-WEIGHT:BOLD;} EM{FONT-STYLE:ALIC;FONT-FAY:CHARTER,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;} EM, I{FONT-FAY:HER;FONT-STYLE:ALIC;} LI{PADDG-BOTTOM:0.625REM;} STRONG{FONT-FAY:CHARTER,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;FONT-WEIGHT:BOLD;} LI::MARKER{LOR:#323232;}NAME: JASON COLLSBIRTH YEAR: 1978BIRTH DATE: DECEMBER 2, 1978BIRTH STATE: CALIFORNIABIRTH CY: NORTHRIDGEBIRTH COUNTRY: UNED STATGENR: MALEBT KNOWN FOR: AMERIN PROFSNAL BASKETBALL PLAYER JASON COLLS BEME THE FIRST ACTIVE OPENLY GAY MALE ATHLETE THE FOUR MAJOR NORTH AMERIN PROFSNAL SPORTS.INDTRISPORTSASTROLOGIL SIGN: SAGTARISCHOOLSSTANFORD UNIVERSYHARVARD-WTLAKE HIGH SCHOOLOCCUPATNSATHLETEFACT CHECK
• HERE ARE THE 6 GAY MEN WHO HAVE BEEN OUT PUBLICLY WHILE PETG PRO BASKETBALL

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. Sports legend and AIDS activist Magic Johnson is beg herald by many for supportg his 20-year-old son, EJ, who is openly inic basketball star, 53, gave a lengthy terview to tailg the nversatn he had wh his son at "a young age" about beg gay and the stggl EJ has faced sce.

MAGIC JOHNSON SAYS HE SUPPORTS GAY SON EJ 'A LN PERCENT': 'THIS IS REALLY WONRFUL FOR HIM'

"We've known for a long time that my son EJ was gay, " Johnson explaed.

MAGIC JOHNSON SAYS SON EJ G OUT AS GAY 'CHANGED' HIM: 'HE WAS JT SO PROUD'

"Johnson, a longtime ally of the lbian, gay, bisexual and transgenr muny, explaed that his son's experience remd him of the plight of several young men he's enuntered through his "Magic" Johnson wh his son EJ (left); his wife, Cookie Johnson; and their dghter Elisa Johnson. Magic Johnson, a longtime ally of the gay muny, said he is not ncerned how others might view his son.

NBA STAR MAGIC JOHNSON'S OPENLY GAY SON THANKS HIS DAD FOR SUPPORTG HIS COMG OUT

Earv “EJ” Johnson, the son of basketball superstar Magic Johnson, is talkg about what was like to e out as gay to his famo father back , who starred on the E!

JASON {LOR:#595959;FONT-FAY:GILROY,HELVETI,ARIAL,SANS-SERIF;FONT-WEIGHT:600;MARG-BOTTOM:0.625REM;}@MEDIA(MAX-WIDTH: 48REM){{FONT-SIZE:0.875REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.2;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 48REM){{FONT-SIZE:1.25REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.2;}} A{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN-THICKNS:0.0625REM;TEXT-RATN-LOR:HER;TEXT-UNRLE-OFFSET:0.25REM;LOR:HER;-WEBK-TRANSN:ALL 0.3S EASE--OUT;TRANSN:ALL 0.3S EASE--OUT;} A:HOVER{LOR:#A00000;TEXT-RATN-LOR:BORR-LK-BODY-HOVER;}AMERIN PROFSNAL BASKETBALL PLAYER JASON COLLS BEME THE FIRST ACTIVE OPENLY GAY MALE ATHLETE THE FOUR MAJOR NORTH AMERIN PROFSNAL {MARG-BOTTOM:0.625REM;PADDG-RIGHT:0.3125REM;LOR:#323232;FONT-FAY:GILROY,HELVETI,ARIAL,SANS-SERIF;FONT-SIZE:0.75REM;LE-HEIGHT:1;FONT-WEIGHT:800;} SPAN{LE-HEIGHT:1.6;FONT-FAY:GILROY,HELVETI,ARIAL,SANS-SERIF;}{FONT-STYLE:NORMAL;PADDG-RIGHT:0.3125REM;FONT-FAY:RALAS,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;LOR:#323232;FONT-SIZE:0.75REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.3;FONT-WEIGHT:BOLD;TEXT-TRANSFORM:PALIZE;}{PADDG-RIGHT:0.3125REM;FONT-FAY:RALAS,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;LOR:#323232;FONT-SIZE:0.75REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.3;FONT-WEIGHT:BOLD;TEXT-TRANSFORM:PALIZE;}BY {DISPLAY:LE-BLOCK;TEXT-TRANSFORM:UPPERSE;MARG-LEFT:0.625REM;FONT-FAY:GILROY,HELVETI,ARIAL,SANS-SERIF;FONT-SIZE:0.75REM;LE-HEIGHT:1;FONT-WEIGHT:800;}UPDATED: NOV 2, {DISPLAY:-WEBK-BOX;DISPLAY:-WEBK-FLEX;DISPLAY:-MS-FLEXBOX;DISPLAY:FLEX;}{MARG-BOTTOM:0.9375REM;POSN:RELATIVE;}@MEDIA(MAX-WIDTH: 64REM){{MAX-WIDTH:LC(100VW - (1REM * 2));MARG-LEFT:1REM;MARG-RIGHT:1REM;} .E152U5OS0{WIDTH:100VW;MARG-LEFT:LC(-1 * 1REM);}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 48REM) AND (MAX-WIDTH: 61.25REM){{MARG-LEFT:TO;MARG-RIGHT:TO;} .E152U5OS0{WIDTH:100VW;MARG-LEFT:LC((100VW - (LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM) - 2 * 1REM)) / -2);}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 61.25REM) AND (MAX-WIDTH: 90REM){{MAX-WIDTH:LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM);MARG-LEFT:LC((100VW - LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM) - 1REM - 20.625REM) / 2);PADDG-LEFT:1REM;PADDG-RIGHT:1REM;} .E152U5OS0{WIDTH:100VW;MARG-LEFT:LC(LC((100VW - LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM) - 1REM - 20.625REM) / -2) - 1REM);}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 90REM){{MARG-LEFT:LC((100VW - LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM)) / 2);MAX-WIDTH:LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM);PADDG-LEFT:1REM;PADDG-RIGHT:1REM;} .E152U5OS0{WIDTH:100VW;MARG-LEFT:LC(LC((100VW - LC(20.625REM * 2 + 1REM)) / -2) - LC(2 * 1REM));}[DATA-HAS-SPONSOR] {MARG-LEFT:LC((100VW - LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM)) / 4);MARG-RIGHT:LC((100VW - LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM)) / 4);}}{JTIFY-SELF:CENTER;POSN:RELATIVE;}@MEDIA(MAX-WIDTH: 48REM){{MARG-LEFT:-50VW;MARG-RIGHT:-50VW;WIDTH:100VW;LEFT:50%;RIGHT:50%;}}{HEIGHT:TO;}@MEDIA(MAX-WIDTH: 48REM){{MARG:TO LC(50% - 50VW);}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 48REM){{MARG:TO;}}{POSN:RELATIVE;HEIGHT:TO;}{POSN:RELATIVE;--POSN:ABSOLUTE;HEIGHT:TO;} IMG{MAX-WIDTH:100%;HEIGHT:TO;} A{POSN:ABSOLUTE;}{POSN:RELATIVE;WIDTH:100%;HEIGHT:100%;OBJECT-F:VER;VERTIL-ALIGN:TOP;}{BACKGROUND:#C92228;BOTTOM:0;PADDG:.5REM;RIGHT:0;}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 64REM){{PADDG:0.39REM;}}{DISPLAY:BLOCK;HEIGHT:1REM;WIDTH:1REM;}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 64REM){{WIDTH:1.063REM;HEIGHT:1.063REM;}}{LE-HEIGHT:1;MARG-TOP:0.3125REM;}@MEDIA(MAX-WIDTH: 73.75REM){{PADDG-LEFT:0.9375REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 64REM){{PADDG-LEFT:0;}}{PADDG-RIGHT:0.3125REM;LOR:#595959;FONT-FAY:GILROY,HELVETI,ARIAL,SANS-SERIF;FONT-SIZE:0.75REM;LE-HEIGHT:1;FONT-WEIGHT:800;}GETTY IMAG / NBA PHOTOS / {FONT-FAY:CHARTER,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;FONT-SIZE:1.1875REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.6;PADDG-LEFT:0REM;PADDG-RIGHT:0REM;POSN:RELATIVE;}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 48REM){{PADDG-LEFT:3.5REM;PADDG-RIGHT:3.5REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 48REM) AND (MAX-WIDTH: 61.25REM){{MAX-WIDTH:45.25REM;MARG-LEFT:TO;MARG-RIGHT:TO;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 61.25REM){{PADDG-LEFT:0REM;PADDG-RIGHT:0REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 73.75REM) AND (MAX-WIDTH: 100REM){{PADDG-LEFT:0REM;PADDG-RIGHT:0REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 90REM){{PADDG-LEFT:0REM;PADDG-RIGHT:0REM;}} EM{FONT-STYLE:ALIC;FONT-FAY:CHARTER,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;} STRONG{FONT-FAY:CHARTER,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;FONT-WEIGHT:BOLD;}{CLEAR:BOTH;NTENT:" ";DISPLAY:BLOCK;FONT-SIZE:0.7REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.5REM;HEIGHT:0REM;VISIBILY:HIDN;}{FONT-FAY:CHARTER,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;FONT-SIZE:1.1875REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.6;} STRONG{FONT-FAY:CHARTER,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;FONT-WEIGHT:BOLD;} EM{FONT-STYLE:ALIC;FONT-FAY:CHARTER,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;}(1978-){LOR:#323232;FONT-FAY:GILROY,HELVETI,ARIAL,SANS-SERIF;FONT-WEIGHT:800;LETTER-SPACG:0.02EM;MARG-BOTTOM:0.625REM;MARG-TOP:0.625REM;}@MEDIA(MAX-WIDTH: 48REM){{FONT-SIZE:1.875REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.1;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 48REM){{FONT-SIZE:2REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.1;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 64REM){{FONT-SIZE:2REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.1;}} B, STRONG{FONT-FAY:HER;FONT-WEIGHT:BOLD;} EM, I{FONT-FAY:HER;FONT-STYLE:ALIC;}WHO IS JASON COLLS? JASON PL COLLS WAS BORN NORTHRIDGE, CALIFORNIA ON DECEMBER 2, 1978. AFTER PLAYG BASKETBALL WH HIS TW BROTHER, JARRON, HIGH SCHOOL AND AT STANFORD UNIVERSY, COLLS VELOPED TO A PABLE NBA FENR FOR MULTIPLE TEAMS. ON APRIL 29, 2013, HE BEME THE FIRST ACTIVE MALE ATHLETE THE FOUR MAJOR NORTH AMERIN PROFSNAL SPORTS TO PROCLAIM HIS HOMOSEXUALY.EARLY YEARS AND EDUTNJASON AND JARRON PLAYED BASKETBALL FOR HARVARD-WTLAKE HIGH SCHOOL NORTH HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA, WHERE FUTURE TELEVISN AND MOVIE STAR JASON SEGEL SERVED AS THEIR BACKUP. THEY WON A PAIR OF CALIFORNIA STATE CHAMPNSHIPS TOGETHER. AS A SENR 1997, JASON WAS NAMED TO THE MCDONALD'S HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL ALL-AMERIN TEAM. THE TWS ENROLLED AT STANFORD UNIVERSY. LIMED TO EIGHT GAM OVER HIS FIRST TWO SEASONS BEE OF JURI, JASON AVERAGED 14.5 POTS AND 7.5 REBOUNDS PER GAME HIS SENR YEAR AND WAS AN HONORABLE MENTN ON THE ALL-AMERIN TEAM. HE GRADUATED WH A GREE MUNITNS AND WAS THE 18TH PICK THE 2001 NBA DRAFT WH THE NEW JERSEY NETS.NBA CAREERCOLLS NEVER BEME A STAR THE NBA, BUT AT A ROCK-SOLID 7'0" AND 255 POUNDS, HE FEND THE LEAGUE'S BT AND LARGT PLAYERS AND LOGGED REGULAR MUT FOR THE NETS TEAMS THAT REACHED THE NBA FALS 2002 AND '03. HE HAD HIS BT SEASON 2004-05 WHEN HE AVERAGED 6.4 POTS AND 6.1 REBOUNDS PER GAME, BUT HE ALSO HAD A LEAGUE-HIGH 322 PERSONAL FOULS.COLLS PLAYED WH THE MEMPHIS GRIZZLI EARLY 2008, THEN SPENT THE FOLLOWG SEASON WH THE MNOTA TIMBERWOLV. HE FOUND A HOME WH THE ATLANTA HAWKS FOR THE NEXT THREE SEASONS, PROVIDG HIS UAL TOUGH FENSE OFF THE BENCH TO HELP THEM REACH THE PLAYOFFS EACH TIME. HE PLAYED SPARGLY DURG THE 2012-13 SEASON FOR THE BOSTON CELTICS AND WASHGTON WIZARDS, AVERAGG JT 1.1 POTS AND 1.6 REBOUNDS PER GAME, BEFORE BEG A EE AGENT.IN 2014, COLLS SIGNED A 10-DAY NTRACT WH THE BROOKLYN NETS, OFFICIALLY MAKG HIM THE FIRST OPENLY GAY ATHLETE TO SIGN WH A U.S. PROFSNAL SPORTS TEAM. LATER THAT YEAR, COLLS AGA SIGNED A 10-DAY AL WH THE NETS THAT WAS EXTEND THROUGH THE RT OF THE SEASON. ON NOVEMBER 19, 2014, COLLS ANNOUNCED HIS RETIREMENT OM PROFSNAL BASKETBALL. HE PLAYED 13 SEASONS THE NBA.COMG OUT ON APRIL 29, 2013, THE TER L UP WH THE REVELATN THAT COLLS WAS GAY, MAKG HIM THE FIRST OPENLY GAY ACTIVE MALE ATHLETE THE FOUR MAJOR NORTH AMERIN SPORTS. IN AN ARTICLE RELEASED THE MAY 6 ISSUE OF SPORTS ILLTRATED, COLLS MA HIS OFFICIAL ANNOUNCEMENT AND EXPLAED HIS REASONG FOR G OUT WHEN HE DID: HAVG GROWN TIRED OF GUARDG HIS SECRET FOR YEARS, HE WAS TRATED WHEN HE ULD NOT JO HIS FORMER ROOMMATE, MASSACHETTS CONGRSMAN JOSEPH KENNEDY III, AND PARTICIPATE BOSTON'S 2012 GAY PRI PARA. FURTHERMORE, HE SAID, THE RECENT BOMBGS AT THE BOSTON MARATHON MA HIM REALIZE THE IMPERMANENCE OF EVERYDAY LIFE AND THE IMPORTANCE OF LIVG TTHFULLY.IN THE WAKE OF THE ANNOUNCEMENT, NBA STARS SUCH AS {-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN-THICKNS:0.0625REM;TEXT-RATN-LOR:HER;TEXT-UNRLE-OFFSET:0.25REM;LOR:#A00000;-WEBK-TRANSN:ALL 0.3S EASE--OUT;TRANSN:ALL 0.3S EASE--OUT;}{LOR:#595959;TEXT-RATN-LOR:BORR-LK-BODY-HOVER;}KOBE BRYANT AND STEVE NASH TWEETED THEIR SUPPORT. WHE HOE SPOKMAN JAY CARNEY LD COLLS'S STATEMENT AS A URAGEO ACT, AND FORMER U.S. PRINT BILL CLTON, WHOSE DGHTER, CHELSEA, ATTEND STANFORD WH COLLS, WROTE THAT THE BASKETBALL STAR'S WORDS WERE "THE STRAIGHTFORWARD STATEMENT OF A GOOD MAN WHO WANTS NO MORE THAN WHAT SO MANY OF SEEK: TO BE ABLE TO BE WHO WE ARE; TO DO OUR WORK; TO BUILD FAI AND TO NTRIBUTE TO OUR MUNI."PERSONAL LIFE COLLS WAS ENGAGED TO HIS EX-GIRLIEND, FORMER WNBA PLAYER CAROLYN MOOS, BEFORE HE UNEXPECTEDLY LLED OFF THEIR WEDDG 2009. THE SAME DAY THE SPORTS ILLTRATED STORY RAN 2013, COLLS LLED MOOS TO TELL HER HE WAS GAY. IT WAS THE FIRST TIME THE TWO HAD DISCSED THE MATTER. COLLS HAS BEEN DATG OSR-NOMATED PRODUCER BNSON GREEN AS EARLY AS 2014. {BORR:0;BORR-BOTTOM:TH SOLID BLACK;MARG:1.875REM 0;CLEAR:BOTH;}QUICK {FONT-FAY:CHARTER,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;FONT-SIZE:1.1875REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.6;MARG:0.9375REM 0 0 0.625REM;PADDG:0 0 0 1.25REM;}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 48REM){{MARG:0.9375REM 0;}} B, STRONG{FONT-FAY:HER;FONT-WEIGHT:BOLD;} EM{FONT-STYLE:ALIC;FONT-FAY:CHARTER,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;} EM, I{FONT-FAY:HER;FONT-STYLE:ALIC;} LI{PADDG-BOTTOM:0.625REM;} STRONG{FONT-FAY:CHARTER,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;FONT-WEIGHT:BOLD;} LI::MARKER{LOR:#323232;}NAME: JASON COLLSBIRTH YEAR: 1978BIRTH DATE: DECEMBER 2, 1978BIRTH STATE: CALIFORNIABIRTH CY: NORTHRIDGEBIRTH COUNTRY: UNED STATGENR: MALEBT KNOWN FOR: AMERIN PROFSNAL BASKETBALL PLAYER JASON COLLS BEME THE FIRST ACTIVE OPENLY GAY MALE ATHLETE THE FOUR MAJOR NORTH AMERIN PROFSNAL SPORTS.INDTRISPORTSASTROLOGIL SIGN: SAGTARISCHOOLSSTANFORD UNIVERSYHARVARD-WTLAKE HIGH SCHOOLOCCUPATNSATHLETEFACT CHECK

While EJ, who is also the son of Magic’s wife Cookie Johnson, said he was out to all of his iends, but that his parents were “the last people” he spoke to about Johnson, the son of basketball legend Magic Johnson, spoke about what was like g out as gay to his father.

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

"The former NBA player, who beme an activist for HIV/AIDS rearch after he publicly announced his HIV posive stat 1991, spoke to The New York Tim  2020 about how he ially thought might be hard for EJ given the stigma around gay men and HIV.

Dwyane Wa has spoken ndidly about the genr journey of his son Zn, 12, who ma the cisn to intify as female and now go by the name Dogg claims he "didn’t threaten" Gayle Kg while fendg Kobe Bryant durg angry rantThe basketball star, 38, opened up durg an terview wh Ellen DeGener about parentg Zaya, who he shar wh his ex-wife Shvghn explaed that he and his wife Gabrielle Unn, 47, are "proud alli" of the LGBTQ+ muny and tailed how the uple are tg themselv on the suatn. You may not know about Magic's gay son E. You might rell Rosevelt Colv is a lebacker and a two-time Super Bowl champn for the XXXVIII and XXXIX gam, but did you know his son Xavier is openly gay?