NBA: Barrier-breakg Colls still awas next openly gay athlete | Rters

Contents:

• JASON COLLS, FIRST OPENLY GAY ATHLETE TO PLAY NBA, MAK U.S. SPORTS HISTORY
• JASON COLLS, FIRST OPENLY GAY NBA PLAYER, REFLECTS ON LEGACY, LIFE AFTER BASKETBALL
• JASON COLLS ME OUT 10 YEARS AGO, HERG A PERD OF CREASG GAY VISIBILY MEN’S SPORTS
• HERE ARE THE 6 GAY MEN WHO HAVE BEEN OUT PUBLICLY WHILE PETG PRO BASKETBALL
• JASON COLLS SAYS HE'S GAY
• THE ONLY 3 OUT, GAY NBA PLAYERS IN HISTORY
• NBA’S JASON COLLS OUT AS GAY
• FIVE YEARS AFTER JASON COLLS ME OUT AS GAY, LTLE PROGRS PRO TEAM SPORTS
• JASON COLLS OUT AS GAY
• TOP 3 NBA PLAYERS WHO ARE GAY FEAT. JASON COLLS AND MORE
• NBA: BARRIER-BREAKG COLLS STILL AWAS NEXT OPENLY GAY ATHLETE
• JASON COLLS WEIGHS ON CARL NASSIB’S CISN TO ANNOUNCE HE IS GAY
• JASON COLLS CELEBRAT GAY 'LABEL' AND TAILS HOW CULTURE OF HOMOPHOBIC LANGUAGE HAS 'SHIFTED' THE LAST
• 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

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

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.

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

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

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.

JASON COLLS ME OUT 10 YEARS AGO, HERG A PERD OF CREASG GAY VISIBILY MEN’S SPORTS

“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.

Sce Jim Buzski and I started Outsports 1999, we’d talked about an active gay player the Big Four — MLB, NBA, NFL, NHL — g out publicly.

Colls has seen the effects of beg out the sport firsthand, talkg repeatedly about one of his former teammat who ed anti-gay slurs the locker room eventually beg a supporter. When athlet e out the locker room, the “sual homophobia” of locker-room talk often subsis. In 10 years, Colls remas the only active NBA player to e out publicly (Bill Kennedy is an active gay NBA referee who is out; player John Amaechi me out after retirg).

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

When Rogers me out MLS, Michael Sam me out the NFL and Colls me out, I was nvced this was the begng of a seri of gay and bi athlet who would e out publicly men’s pro sports. Sce those three gay pro athlet me out the urse of a year, only two active athlet big-time Amerin men’s pro sports have e out publicly while on a team: Coll Mart MLS and Carl Nassib the NFL.

When John Amaechi me out publicly 2007, he was ahead of his time, sharg that he’s gay and a former profsnal basketball player. Sce Colls showed the world you uld be a gay man profsnal basketball, there has been a trickle of gay athlet to follow, most recently former NBA player and current Atralian pro basketball player Isaac Humphri.

Jason Colls says he's news servicApr 29, 2013, 11:46 AM ETNBA center Jason Colls on Monday announced that he's gay a story for Sports Illtrated, beg the first active player one of the four major Amerin profsnal team sports to announce that he is gay. Last year, durg his re-electn mpaign, Print Barack Obama announced his support for gay after Colls disclosed his sexualy, Obama reached out by phone, exprsg his support and tellg Colls he was imprsed by his urage, the Whe Hoe Print Bill Clton, whose dghter Chelsea attend Stanford wh Colls, also appld Colls' announcement. "Jason's announcement today is an important moment for profsnal sports and the history of the LGBT [lbian, gay, bisexual, transgenr] muny, " he said a statement.

JASON COLLS SAYS HE'S GAY

"He said the first relative he told he was gay was his nt Teri, who is a superr urt judge San Francis. He said she told him, "I've known you were gay for years, " which ma him "fortable my own sk. "Colls said he realized he need to make his sexual orientatn public when his former roommate at Stanford, Massachetts ngrsman Joe Kennedy, who is straight, marched Boston's Gay Pri Para last Boston Marathon bombgs earlier this month then rerced to him "that I shouldn't wa for the circumstanc of my g out to be perfect.

Colls says he quietly ma a statement for gay rights even while keepg his sexual orientatn a secret.

THE ONLY 3 OUT, GAY NBA PLAYERS IN HISTORY

98 wh the Celtics and Wizards -- 1998 was the year that Matthew Shepard, a gay llege stunt Wyomg, was killed, and the Trevor Project, a suici preventn anizatn, was found.

"Sayg 'I'm gay' sets a new standard of honty, openns and teamwork that will posively affect athlet and fans at every level of sports. While there may be closeted gay nba players, there have only been three openly gay players.

NBA’S JASON COLLS OUT AS GAY

Jason CollsCareerComg OutJon AmaechiCareer Comg Out Isaac HumphriCareerComg OutAre There Closeted Gay NBA Players? One ESPN mentator, Chris Brosard, exprsed both his admiratn for Colls’ bravery and his belief that Colls uld not be both gay and christian.

FIVE YEARS AFTER JASON COLLS ME OUT AS GAY, LTLE PROGRS PRO TEAM SPORTS

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.

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. 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 OUT AS GAY

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”.

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. He actually went to unselg and beme the 1st person to sign his name to a 2013 petn to legalize gay marriage Florida.

TOP 3 NBA PLAYERS WHO ARE GAY FEAT. JASON COLLS AND MORE

Isaac Humphri beme the only openly gay player a top tier men’s league after g out 2022. At UK he had limed succs, averagg jt 3 pots and 3 rebounds per game his sophomore season. Humprhi is the only male player a top tier league the world who is currently playg and openly gay.

While the percentage of people who are gay vari wh different measur, there is no reputable measure sayg the number is zero. Jason Colls me out 2013 and went on to play the next season beg the first and only openly gay active player NBA history. Jason Colls, who played wh the NBA’s Boston Celtics and Washgton Wizards this season, has disclosed that he is gay, makg him the first active openly gay male athlete the four major Amerin pro team sports.

NBA: BARRIER-BREAKG COLLS STILL AWAS NEXT OPENLY GAY ATHLETE

“Jason Colls has forever changed the face of sports, ” said the Human Rights Campaign, a civil rights group fightg for gay rights. Former NBA player Charl Barkley, now an analyst for “Insi the NBA” on TNT, told CNN on Monday night that active players shouldn’t be surprised that a teammate is gay.

JASON COLLS WEIGHS ON CARL NASSIB’S CISN TO ANNOUNCE HE IS GAY

“I thk anybody who thks they never played wh a gay player is an idt, ” he said on “AC360. Jt a few weeks ago, the NHL announced a new program teachg tolerance and givg support to gay athlet. In Febary, former profsnal soccer player Robbie Rogers announced on his blog that he is gay.

“If you’re openly livg unrepentant s, whatever may be, not jt homosexualy, adultery, fornitn, premaral sex between heterosexuals, whatever may be. Amaechi told CNN he hop Colls will be a talyst for a wir acceptance of openly gay athlet, sayg he believ Colls is better equipped than anyone who me before him to handle the attentn that will e his way.

JASON COLLS CELEBRAT GAY 'LABEL' AND TAILS HOW CULTURE OF HOMOPHOBIC LANGUAGE HAS 'SHIFTED' THE LAST

The Women’s Natnal Basketball Associatn, the women’s pro league, has had s share of ton and openns as far as gays are ncerned. 1 pick this year’s WNBA draft, recently said an terview wh Sports Illtrated that she is gay. Five years ago, Jason Colls me out as an openly gay NBA player and appeared as if the sports world — pecially pro male sports leagu — was about to unrgo a seismic change regards to LGBT athlet.

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

In 2014, he also beme the first openly gay NBA player to see actn a regular season game, which is que an acplishment. There are several out WNBA players and women have long been the trailblazers sports, but for historic and soclogil reasons we have long wrten about, gay female athlet don’t get the attentn they serve. I ed to make predictns as to when there would be the next gay athlete a pro team sport, but I’ve stopped.

I would have sffed had someone told me November 1999 when Outsports first published that more than 18 years later we would have had only three openly active gay male athlet om the five major U. Sce Kopay me out 43 years ago there have been only 10 other NFL players who have clared they are gay; all except Sam had retired when they me out. I’m nvced that if an openly gay player me out any of our major sports, he would get 100% support om the league office.

Many gay athlet have told Outsports that acceptg themselv was the biggt hurdle they had to face. Headg to the 2018 season, for example, there will be two openly gay llege football players the FBS divisn — Kansas State’s Stt Frantz and Arizona’s My-Kg Johnson, both of whom will be eligible for the draft two to three years. The past Wter Olympics had the first openly gay male petors and all the attentn given to G Kenworthy and Adam Rippon showed that society is beg much more acceptg of ele athlet beg gay.