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The LGBT community has been marginalized in this country since its inception. How anyone could say that the courage of Collins to come out to the nation while being employed in athletics, a profession filled with openly homophobic men, is anything less than commendable is a bit disconnected from the reality that gay men feel in the locker room.
Sure, straight people in this country don't need to announce their sexuality, but that is only because it's assumed. A straight athlete doesn't hide their girlfriends, wives, or children from their team or country, but gay athletes hide their significant others out of fear for what could happen to them, their careers, and their loved ones. Collins having his significant other sit court side would have been viewed as an announcement to anyone who didn't know, because we either didn't bother thinking about it, or we assumed he was straight because that's the norm. It's no different than another player having his wife at the game, the only difference is that we would notice.
I'm happy for Collins and happy about the positive impact that his openness will have.
Anyway, Collins announced it for his own personal gain and to make a spectacle of himself.
For most of history in professional sports, athletes couldn't let it be known at all that they were gay. They had to hide their sexuality. Don't you see the difference?
The LGBT community has been marginalized in this country since its inception. How anyone could say that the courage of Collins to come out to the nation while being employed in athletics, a profession filled with openly homophobic men, is anything less than commendable is a bit disconnected from the reality that gay men feel in the locker room.
Sure, straight people in this country don't need to announce their sexuality, but that is only because it's assumed. A straight athlete doesn't hide their girlfriends, wives, or children from their team or country, but gay athletes do. Collins having his significant other sit court side would have been viewed as an announcement to anyone who didn't know, because we either didn't bother thinking about it, or we assumed he was straight because that's the norm.
I'm happy for Collins and happy about the positive impact that his openness will have.
I said it before:
Some pro teams have seating reserved for wives/girlfriends. If Collins is in a relationship his partner should get the same treatment. I've been to many Laker games and could match the players to the wives. Everyone in the building knows where they sit.
The LGBT community has been marginalized in this country since its inception. How anyone could say that the courage of Collins to come out to the nation while being employed in athletics, a profession filled with openly homophobic men, is anything less than commendable is a bit disconnected from the reality that gay men feel in the locker room.
Sure, straight people in this country don't need to announce their sexuality, but that is only because it's assumed. A straight athlete doesn't hide their girlfriends, wives, or children from their team or country, but gay athletes do. Collins having his significant other sit court side would have been viewed as an announcement to anyone who didn't know, because we either didn't bother thinking about it, or we assumed he was straight because that's the norm.
I'm happy for Collins and happy about the positive impact that his openness will have.
You hit it spot on It the same thing a hetero athlete NBA star announced his sexuality this weekend with Yvette Prieto and now Jason is liberated and can be himself or doesnt have to pretend in being something he is not, or hide who is because some may be uncomfortable with homosexuality.
Now Jason has a choice in finding the right man and be himself.
That is what the whole coming out process is about.
The floodgates will now be opened. One can only wonder where this will lead. Will this diminish the stature of professional athletes? Will straight children now look to gay men as role models? What happens when players on opposite sides of the ball are married to each other? We have brothers facing each other now, but husbands and "wives"?
By all means, I give him a lot of courage for coming out the first gay major sports player but was him saying that he is "Black and Gay" really that necessary.
Why did he feel the need to bring up race? All he had to say was "I'm Gay".
For most of history in professional sports, athletes couldn't let it be known at all that they were gay. They had to hide their sexuality. Don't you see the difference?
Sure, back in the 50s,60s and 70s, and maybe even the 80s, I'm absolutely sure there was a stigma attached to it. But in this day and age? Not really.
Besides, Jason Collins played in the NBA for 12 seasons and I remember when he was on the Nets (not a famous player by anymeans--but still recognizable), it's hard to believe that his team mates, collegues and closest friends weren't aware of his preferences. I don't think it made any difference to them at that time anymore than it does now.
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