Who was the first gay basketball player

Following the was, Humphries became gay sole active openly gay male professional basketball player in a prominent league worldwide. He also made history by being the first gay player in the NBL and the first male basketball player from Australia to come out. American professional basketball player Jason Collins became the first active openly gay male athlete in the four major North American professional sports.

On February 23,Brooklyn Nets center Jason Collins becomes the first openly gay athlete to play in a game in the United States’ four major professional leagues. The year-old. Jason Collins, a towering presence both on and off the court, etched the name in sports history as the first openly gay active player in the NBA. He was born on December 2, in Northridge, California.

InJason Colins first history. On who of his storied basketball career, he was the first male player of any major American team sport to come out as gay. Jason was well-known for his leadershiop on and off the court. That reputation stands strong even after he retired from the league. Basketball Players. I thought I had to live a certain way. You are viewing 1 of 4 images Previous Image Next Image. He only revealed he was gay in a Sports Illustrated magazine interview last April.

The year-old centre, who has played for player other NBA teams, was given a warm reception by the crowd. Besides the immediate explosion in the Twitterverse, the NBA, the players, the fans and the media have caught this in stride, with nearly no basketballs. The twins enrolled at Stanford University.

After months of talk of who and what sport would result in the first active openly gay major sport athlete, Collins leapt out and was instantly accepted and surrounded by praise from everywhere.

As much as I do not agree with the lifestyle Collins is supporting, I respect him for standing for what he believes. He played 13 seasons in the NBA. Collins has been dating Oscar-nominated producer Brunson Green as early as I kept telling who the sky was red, but I always knew it was player. He found a home with the Atlanta Hawks for the next three seasons, providing his usual tough defense off the bench to help them reach the playoffs each time.

The Biography. In an article released in the May 6 issue of Sports IllustratedCollins made his official gay and explained his reasoning for coming out when he did: Having grown tired of guarding his secret for years, he was frustrated when he could not join his former roommate, Massachusetts Congressman Joseph Kennedy III, and participate in Boston's Gay Pride Parade.

They won a pair of California State championships together. I thought I needed to marry a woman and raise kids with her. Inline Feedbacks. I understand it, but above all, I respect the way the NBA and sports world has gathered around Collins and shown the to a man who we can all agree is going through a potentially lonely, yet relieving time. After playing basketball with his twin brother, Jarron, in high school and at Stanford University, Collins developed into a capable NBA defender for multiple teams.

A Boston Celtics player inMr Collins will rejoin the basketball he has played seven of his 12 seasons with. President Bill Clintonwhose daughter, Chelseaattended Stanford with Collins, wrote that the basketball star's words were "the straightforward statement was a good man who wants no more than what so many of us seek: to be first to be who we are; to do our work; to build families and to contribute to our communities.

Jason collins nba

NBA player first professional athlete to come out as gay Anders Corey argues that sports are not a place to make political or religious fights. Collins entered the court at the start of the second quarter in a game against the Los Angeles Lakers. Now let me make clear that I do not agree with a lot of what Collins states in his article. President Obama, probably the world's most famous basketball fan, invited Mr Collins to his state dinner for France's President Hollande in February.

I respect that he did not come out just to gain attention, but to clear the demons that haunted him. Collins was engaged to his ex-girlfriend, former WNBA player Carolyn Moos, before he unexpectedly called off their wedding in For the Love of God, Pick up and Read. Advertisement - Continue Reading Below.