Jason Colls, first openly gay athlete to play NBA, mak U.S. sports history

NBA 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. * is jason collins gay *

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.

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

US basketball player Jason Colls out as gay, the first active male athlete a major Amerin profsnal sport to do so. * is jason collins 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. 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.

NBA PLAYER JASON COLLS OUT AS GAY

Amerin profsnal basketball player Jason Colls beme the first active openly gay male athlete the four major North Amerin profsnal sports. * is jason collins gay *

"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. Image ptn, Jason Colls has been undated wh msag of supportUS basketball player Jason Colls has e out as gay, the first active male athlete a major Amerin profsnal team sport to do clared his sexualy an article for Sports Illtrated, announcg: "I'm a 34-year-old NBA center.

"Print Barack Obama, NBA star Kobe Bryant and sportswear pany Nike were among those exprsg public NBA player John Amaechi me out 2007, but had already Monday, Mr Obama, who last year announced his support for gay marriage, lled Colls to tell him he was imprsed wh his urage and offer his support, the Whe Hoe said. 'Learship mantle'Former Print Bill Clton lled the move "an important moment for profsnal sports and the history of the LGBT muny" dghter, Chelsea, who knew Colls when they were both stunts at California's Stanford Universy, tweeted: "Very proud of my iend Jason Colls for havg the strength and urage to be the first openly gay player the NBA. "The reactn was not entirely welg: An analyst for sports broadster ESPN, Chris Brosard, said on Monday he did not believe that "you n live an openly homosexual liftyle" and be a Christian.

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 {LOR:#323232;MARG-BOTTOM:0.625REM;PADDG-RIGHT:0.3125REM;FONT-FAY:GILROY,HELVETI,ARIAL,SANS-SERIF;FONT-SIZE:0.75REM;LE-HEIGHT:1;FONT-WEIGHT:800;} SPAN{FONT-FAY:GILROY,HELVETI,ARIAL,SANS-SERIF;LE-HEIGHT:1.6;}{FONT-STYLE:NORMAL;PADDG-RIGHT:0.3125REM;LOR:#323232;FONT-FAY:RALAS,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;FONT-SIZE:0.75REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.3;FONT-WEIGHT:BOLD;TEXT-TRANSFORM:PALIZE;}{PADDG-RIGHT:0.3125REM;LOR:#323232;FONT-FAY:RALAS,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;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;}}{LOR:#595959;PADDG-RIGHT:0.3125REM;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-FAY:CHARTER,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;FONT-STYLE:ALIC;} 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;} EM{FONT-FAY:CHARTER,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;FONT-STYLE:ALIC;} STRONG{FONT-FAY:CHARTER,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;FONT-WEIGHT:BOLD;}(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-FAY:CHARTER,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;FONT-STYLE:ALIC;} 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

* is jason collins gay *

Symbolic shirt numberIn the Sports Illtrated article, Colls, who has most recently played for the Washgton Wizards and the Boston Celtics, said: "I didn't set out to be the first openly gay athlete playg a major Amerin team sport.

" Colls said he cid he should go public after his former roommate at Stanford Universy, Congrsman Joe Kennedy, scn of the Kennedy polil dynasty, marched a Boston gay pri basketball player at Stanford, Colls peted the natnal llegiate champnship tournament, reachg the fourth round. Colls explaed that 2012 he changed his uniform number to 98 - a number wh signifince for the gay muny the US - as a gture of 1998, Matthew Shepard, a gay stunt at the Universy of Wyomg, was btally killed what has been ced as one of the most notor anti-gay hate crim the US. 6 rebounds per game, before beg a ee 2014, Colls signed a 10-day ntract wh the Brooklyn Nets, officially makg him the first openly gay athlete to sign wh a U.

NBA STAR JASON COLLS STARTED DATG HIS GAY PARTNER AFTER 8-YEAR-LONG ENGAGEMENT TO FAMO FIANCéE - MEET HIS BOYIEND

Jason Colls, who played wh the NBA’s Washgton Wizards this season, has disclosed that he is gay. * is jason collins gay *

He played 13 seasons the 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. The same day the Sports Illtrated story ran 2013, Colls lled Moos to tell her he was gay.

NBA’S JASON COLLS OUT AS GAY

Jason Colls was the first active NBA player and LGBTQ+ advote to e out as gay 2013 and got retired 2014. * is jason collins gay *

QUICK FACTSName: 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. Like many morn stars, Colls has joed the club of those livg their 2013 the now 42-years-old revealed he was gay and received massive support om former Print Barack Obama, NBA star Kobe Bryant, and sportg wear brand Nike.

A photo of profsnal basketballer, Jason Colls | Photo: Getty ImagLIVING A LIEBefore gog public wh his inty and fearlsly sharg his love life on social media, Colls tried to blend like everyone else and was a relatnship wh former WNBA player Carolyn said she was as shocked as everyone else when he me out of the closet as she had no ia he was gay when they athlete once admted to supprsg his te self by datg different women as he did not want to be perceived as weird or have his reer brought to a sudn halt by the ld receptn he would have former Washgton Wizards star got engaged at some pot as he battled wh the feelg that gettg married and startg a fay would help silence the ragg war his head about his sexualy.

JASON COLLS: 5 SURPRISG FACTS ABOUT THE FIRST OPENLY GAY NBA PLAYER

Former NBA player Jason Colls beme the first openly gay athlete playg a major Amerin team sport. He got support even om many people, cludg the POTUS. * is jason collins gay *

Beg the one to break profsnal stereotyp, Colls received wispread media first, the former NBA star noted that he was skeptil over the reactn om other NBA players, but shockgly, Twter went ablaze wh support om fellow basketball an terview shown on ABC’s “Good Morng Ameri, ” Colls noted that he felt the untry was ready to support gay profsnals seeg the support he featured on multiple platforms and was ved by media mogul Oprah Wey where he appeared wh his fay and opened up on his engagement. 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.

“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.

“I thk anybody who thks they never played wh a gay player is an idt, ” he said on “AC360.

JASON COLLS IS THE 1ST OPENLY GAY NBA PLAYER AND WAS ENGAGED TO A WOMAN — INSI HIS STORY

Retired NBA player Jason Colls remas the only out gay athlete to pete the regular season any of the major Amerin sports leagu. * is jason collins gay *

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.

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

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. * is jason collins gay *

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. 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.

In fact, was a nversatn that Colls and Kennedy had about the ngrsman marchg a gay pri para that prompted Colls to reveal his homosexualy.

OLYMPIC MEDALLIST COL JACKSON ANNOUNC HE IS GAY

It’s been 10 yeas sce Jason Colls me out as a gay man a Sports Illtrated ver story. He spoke wh The Athletic about where thgs stand. * is jason collins gay *

I was proud of him for participatg but angry that as a closeted gay man I uldn’t even cheer my straight iend on as a spectator. After Colls’ announcement, she tweeted her support for her iend: “Very proud of my iend Jason Colls for havg the strength & urage to be the first openly gay player the NBA. Later after his retirement 2014, he cid to advote for LGBTQ+ as an openly gay personaly.

As we all know, Jason Colls is the first publicly gay athlete to star any of the four major North Amerin leagu.

As the jerseys stood on the top-earng spot, the llected amount benefted the Matthew Shepard Foundatn and the Gay, Lbian & Straight Edutn Network (GLSEN).

JASON COLLS OUT AS GAY

He left basketball to be a public advote for LGBT athlet, as, at least 187 profsnal athlet talked about issu surroundg gay, lbian, bisexual and transgenr athlet after his g out.

Former NBA player Jason Colls beme the first openly gay athlete playg a major Amerin team sport. ”Fortunately, was what he need to bee fortable his own sk, pecially bee he always knew he was gay but didn’t want to accept .

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

JASON COLLINS’ FIANCÉEComg back to former WNBA center Carolyn Moos, she was as shocked – or even more so – as the rt of the world at Jason Colls beg gay.

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.

JASON COLLS, OPENLY GAY AND STILL UNSIGNED, WAS AND WONRS

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).

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

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.

All month long, Outsports is revisg key moments gay, lbian, bisexual, transgenr and queer sports history as part of LGBTQ history month.

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

Bee of Colls, at least 187 profsnal athlet talked about issu surroundg gay, lbian, bisexual and transgenr athlet.

NBA's Jason Colls out as gay | CNN

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