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

the gay nba 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. 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.

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

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

When John Amaechi me out publicly 2007, he was ahead of his time, sharg that he’s gay and a former profsnal basketball player.

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

“There was no realy that existed where I uld be an openly gay man while playg basketball,” he noted. * the gay nba 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. Here are the gay men who have blazed a trail on basketball urts around the world.

FORMER NBA, KENTUCKY PLAYER ISAAC HUMPHRI OUT AS ONLY ACTIVE GAY PLAYER TOP-TIER MEN'S 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. * the gay nba basketball player *

The Lbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgenr (LGBT) muny remas a hot topic the Uned Stat.

The LGBT movement emerged as early as the 1870s, but homosexual rights groups didn't appear until after World War II September 1945. To add onto the topic of the Warrrs, print Rick Welts me out as gay an terview wh the New York Tim 2011. Homophobia is somethg that shouldn't have a place sports bee LGBT folks n be fans, media members, employe and executiv too.

THE ONLY 3 OUT, GAY NBA PLAYERS IN HISTORY

Many tweets me years ago. It don’t lsen the stg for the gay fan who disvered them, or other gay men basketball. * the gay nba basketball player *

" We, as a untry, need to une and not jt bee of the tragic gay nightclub shootg Orlando, Florida, that occurred last summer. We have a thg gog on now — people discrimatg agast homosexualy this untry.

I love the homosexual people. God bls the gay people. His fay reportedly had mixed emotns towards the announcement, but he still changed the game, beg the first Divisn I men's basketball player to e out as gay and play gam.

He also received praise om Colls and former NFL fensive end Michael Sam, who beme the first openly gay football player. Denver Nuggets power forward Kenh Faried has been a gay rights supporter for a long time. In 2011, mors surfaced, claimg that Selby was gay after an alleged email to another man was leaked.

A GAY NBA FAN FOUND 78 HOMOPHOBIC TWEETS BY 40 PLAYERS ON 23 TEAMS

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. * the gay nba basketball player *

Selby later nied those claims, sayg “Bh, I am jt cur, not gay. When then-Phoenix Suns print and CEO Rick Welts me out as gay May 2011, former NBA pot guard Steve Nash pledged his support favor of the LGBT muny. Nash said the vio, "A growg number of profsnal athlet are speakg out support of gay and lbian upl gettg married, I'm proud to be one of them.

Asi om his open support for gay rights, he also ns the Steve Nash Foundatn, which helps children who are affected by poverty, illns, abe or neglect, and creat opportuny for tn, play, and empowerment, Phoenix, Arizona, and Brish Columbia, Canada. After the 2012-13 NBA season me to an end, Colls me out as gay. 98 to honor the murr of the late Universy of Wyomg stunt Matthew Shepard, who was gay.

JASON COLLS SAYS HE'S GAY

He told Good Day LA, "I thk gay marriage, same-sex marriage is them go through what we go through. In his hman year at Villanova, he first me out as gay to his teammate and roommate Mike Villa before nfsg to his parents three months later.

Amaechi was the first former NBAer to publicly e out as gay after retirg om the league. Sce then, he has been regard as one of the world's most high-profile gay athlet.

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

Prevly, Amaechi talked about gays the NBA an terview wh Stland on Sunday.

*BEAR-MAGAZINE.COM* THE GAY NBA BASKETBALL PLAYER

Gay NBA fan fds 78 anti gay tweets by 40 players on 23 teams - Outsports .

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