OT: Jason Collins comes out in SI

[rsavaj]

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/magazi ... &eref=sihp

Pretty big step for the LGBT community. Never thought that the NBA would be the American sport to have the first active openly gay male. Doesn't seem like it's the most receptive environment.

[RunDogGun]

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/magazine/news/20130429/jason-collins-gay-nba-player/?sct=hp_t11_a0&eref=sihp

Pretty big step for the LGBT community. Never thought that the NBA would be the American sport to have the first active openly gay male. Doesn't seem like it's the most receptive environment.

Jon Amichi didn't seem to get a warm reception from the fans when he came out.

[Saberestar]

"Everyone is terrified of the unknown, but most of us don't want to return to a time when minorities were openly discriminated against"

Big step, well done Collins.

[Gorilla Warfare]

This is a big step in the right direction. I hope with the amount of respect he has gotten from teammates on multiple teams since his arrival into the NBA it will help others come out of hiding. Although I hate to admit it, I really like what Kobe said on it. "Don't suffocate who you are because of the ignorance of others."

[pidi]

Respect!!! Chapeau

[grumpysaddle]

I'm happy for him to finally be able to live the way he should be able to live. It makes me sick that people care so much about what others are doing that it causes them to live in fear of being themselves. Hoping this opens the floodgates.

[ASU MVP]

About time! Great job Collins! Respect to you

[RunSunRun]

One big step in the right direction, I hope for the day where sexual orientation is no big deal for any person in any profession.

Good job Jason Collins.

[bwgood77]

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/magazine/news/20130429/jason-collins-gay-nba-player/?sct=hp_t11_a0&eref=sihp

Pretty big step for the LGBT community. Never thought that the NBA would be the American sport to have the first active openly gay male. Doesn't seem like it's the most receptive environment.

It seems the most receptive to me, considering the commercials by Grant Hill and Dudley, and the statements by Kobe. Also, Welts had already come out.

[rsavaj]

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/magazine/news/20130429/jason-collins-gay-nba-player/?sct=hp_t11_a0&eref=sihp

Pretty big step for the LGBT community. Never thought that the NBA would be the American sport to have the first active openly gay male. Doesn't seem like it's the most receptive environment.

It seems the most receptive to me, considering the commercials by Grant Hill and Dudley, and the statements by Kobe. Also, Welts had already come out.

That's a good point. He's received a lot of public support from Nash, Kobe, Davis, Kidd, etc,.

It's interesting that you mention Dudley...he's on twitter defending Broussard's statements.

Social media is crazy.

[grumpysaddle]

Just spent time reading through the topic on the general board, and all I have to say is that it made me sad for humanity.

Glad all the posts here are positive words, and not intolerant bickering.

[bwgood77]

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/magazine/news/20130429/jason-collins-gay-nba-player/?sct=hp_t11_a0&eref=sihp

Pretty big step for the LGBT community. Never thought that the NBA would be the American sport to have the first active openly gay male. Doesn't seem like it's the most receptive environment.

It seems the most receptive to me, considering the commercials by Grant Hill and Dudley, and the statements by Kobe. Also, Welts had already come out.

That's a good point. He's received a lot of public support from Nash, Kobe, Davis, Kidd, etc,.

It's interesting that you mention Dudley...he's on twitter defending Broussard's statements.

Social media is crazy.

Yeah, I saw Dudley talking about Broussard's stuff, which I found odd. I was also listening to Simmons' podcast and he had mentioned Kenneth Faried talking about being raised by to women, as well as Magic talking about his son as well.

[RandomVillain]

It's interesting that you mention Dudley...he's on twitter defending Broussard's statements.

Social media is crazy.

I've been trying to figure out what the heck Dudley is talking about. Couldn't figure out if he supported this or was against it.

[Moochthemonkey]

It's interesting that you mention Dudley...he's on twitter defending Broussard's statements.

Social media is crazy.

I've been trying to figure out what the heck Dudley is talking about. Couldn't figure out if he supported this or was against it.

the commercial with Dudley and Hill was against hatred towards homosexuals (most practicing Christians, Westboro Baptist excluded, are told to love their "enemies"), but that doesn't mean they support the LGBT community.

[RandomVillain]

Oh I know about the commercial, I meant his rambling on Twitter today. Couldn't figure out if he was for or against. But yeah. I kinda just, stopped following him because, yeah wow.

[bwgood77]

Oh I know about the commercial, I meant his rambling on Twitter today. Couldn't figure out if he was for or against. But yeah. I kinda just, stopped following him because, yeah wow.

Yeah, he seemed to back himself into a stupid corner there. Wouldn't make for a good politician I guess.

[lilfishi22]

Couldn't be more happy for the guy. It takes a lot of courage to come out and more so being the first among the 4 major sports. Just great to see the support he's received.

[RaisingArizona]

And I'm straight. Why is this news? Why should we care about sexual preference?

[rsavaj]

And I'm straight. Why is this news? Why should we care about sexual preference?

We shouldn't, and one day we'll get to a point as a society where we've progressed enough where it's not an issue, but we're not there yet. There are still too many people who discriminate against the LGBT population.

[snowthedirtbub]

And I'm straight. Why is this news? Why should we care about sexual preference?

Probably because he is the first professional athlete to come out? I hate comments like these, I always get the sense they have a "holier than thou" connotation.