First Openly Gay Professional Male Athlete In Major Sport

[Happy Panther]

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/04/29/jason-collins-comes-out-gay_n_3178401.html?ir=Sports

NBA center Jason Collins has become the first male athlete in a major professional sport to come out as gay.

[Black]

Good for him. It will still take a long time before it's totally accepted in locker rooms, but it's a start. A bigger name coming out would accelerate the process.

[Cat]

That takes a lot of bravery, good for him.

[Hawk]

the more the merrier

[Anybodyhome]

Not really. Unless one may think this is special because the guy is still playing.

John Amaechi played in the NBA for 5 seasons.

Former NFL players Roy Simmons came out in 1992, Esera Tuaolo in 2002, Wade Davis in 2012 and Kwame Harris this year.

Former MLB player Billy Bean came out years ago as well.

[Happy Panther]

Unless one may think this is special because the guy is still playing.

Yes of course it is. That's why this is a headline today.

[Black]

Not really. Unless one may think this is special because the guy is still playing.

John Amaechi played in the NBA for 5 seasons.

Former NFL players Roy Simmons came out in 1992, Esera Tuaolo in 2002, Wade Davis in 2012 and Kwame Harris this year.

Former MLB player Billy Bean came out years ago as well.

That's the whole point.

[Anybodyhome]

That's the whole point.

Yes of course it is. That's why this is a headline today.

Maybe I'm missing the point, then. Who gives a fug if the guy is still playing or not?

I'm a heterosexual male who spent 20 years in the Navy. Is that supposed to mean something? I don't recall ever being asked what my sexual orientation was during those 20 years and I'm sure I probably served alongside a number of gay servicemen. But why would I ever have a need to know and why would I ask?

Maybe because I don't think it's that big a deal. Someone announcing they're gay to me is like telling me I'm white, or right-handed, or Irish, or tall... who cares?

[Vampire the buffet slayer]

Inb4 inevitable ball handling skills jk.

[Hawk]

I totally agree with you Anybodyhome

maybe if we stopped making it such a big deal, it wouldn't be such a big deal!!!!!

[Happy Panther]

Maybe I'm missing the point, then.

Yes you are.

[Black]

Maybe I'm missing the point, then. Who gives a fug if the guy is still playing or not?

I'm a heterosexual male who spent 20 years in the Navy. Is that supposed to mean something? I don't recall ever being asked what my sexual orientation was during those 20 years and I'm sure I probably served alongside a number of gay servicemen. But why would I ever have a need to know and why would I ask?

Maybe because I don't think it's that big a deal. Someone announcing they're gay to me is like telling me I'm white, or right-handed, or Irish, or tall... who cares?

But think how much easier your life would have been if you has admitted to the world you were a right-handed-Irishman while you were still in the service?

But really, that's not the same at all. Gay youths kill themselves at a significantly higher rate than the rest of the population, because as a whole, it is still a "big deal". To have a current athlete come out, is a step in the direction of making it a smaller deal, and in time, a commonplace occurrence.

It's good to see the Huddle is generally looking at this as a positive, but we all know that there are still millions in this country who do not, and will not accept the gay "lifestyle".

[stirs]

I would think he was much more courageous if he had come out at 24 rather than 34 and his career is pretty much over. No huge risk taken like it is being portrayed. He is looking at his next career at this point

[Jase]

don't care

play ball