NFT: Jason Collins is teh ghey

[Planetman]

NTTAWWT

Why NBA center Jason Collins is coming out now

By Jason Collins with Franz Lidz

This story appears in the May 6, 2013, issue of Sports Illustrated.

I'm a 34-year-old NBA center. I'm black. And I'm gay.

I didn't set out to be the first openly gay athlete playing in a major American team sport. But since I am, I'm happy to start the conversation. I wish I wasn't the kid in the classroom raising his hand and saying, "I'm different." If I had my way, someone else would have already done this. Nobody has, which is why I'm raising my hand.

My journey of self-discovery and self-acknowledgement began in my hometown of Los Angeles and has taken me through two state high school championships, the NCAA Final Four and the Elite Eight, and nine playoffs in 12 NBA seasons.

I've played for six pro teams and have appeared in two NBA Finals. Ever heard of a parlor game called Three Degrees of Jason Collins? If you're in the league, and I haven't been your teammate, I surely have been one of your teammates' teammates. Or one of your teammates' teammates' teammates.

Now I'm a free agent, literally and figuratively. I've reached that enviable state in life in which I can do pretty much what I want. And what I want is to continue to play basketball. I still love the game, and I still have something to offer. My coaches and teammates recognize that. At the same time, I want to be genuine and authentic and truthful.

Why am I coming out now? Well, I started thinking about this in 2011 during the NBA player lockout. I'm a creature of routine. When the regular season ends I immediately dedicate myself to getting game ready for the opener of the next campaign in the fall. But the lockout wreaked havoc on my habits and forced me to confront who I really am and what I really want. With the season delayed, I trained and worked out. But I lacked the distraction that basketball had always provided.

The first relative I came out to was my aunt Teri, a superior court judge in San Francisco. Her reaction surprised me. "I've known you were gay for years," she said. From that moment on I was comfortable in my own skin. In her presence I ignored my censor button for the first time. She gave me support. The relief I felt was a sweet release. Imagine you're in the oven, baking. Some of us know and accept our sexuality right away and some need more time to cook. I should know -- I baked for 33 years.

When I was younger I dated women. I even got engaged. I thought I had to live a certain way. I thought I needed to marry a woman and raise kids with her. I kept telling myself the sky was red, but I always knew it was blue.

I realized I needed to go public when Joe Kennedy, my old roommate at Stanford and now a Massachusetts congressman, told me he had just marched in Boston's 2012 Gay Pride Parade. I'm seldom jealous of others, but hearing what Joe had done filled me with envy. I was proud of him for participating but angry that as a closeted gay man I couldn't even cheer my straight friend on as a spectator. If I'd been questioned, I would have concocted half truths. What a shame to have to lie at a celebration of pride. I want to do the right thing and not hide anymore. I want to march for tolerance, acceptance and understanding. I want to take a stand and say, "Me, too."

[Donger]

Originally Posted by Al Bundy

Doesn't really matter to me. I'm straight... not sure how you come up with the "They will never be equal to us" thing though.

I didn't come up with it.

[patteeu]

Originally Posted by loochy

OK so Collins is the OP.

Will his thread turn out to be one of the megathreads that has to be archived, closed, and continued in a new thread?

I hope not.

[patteeu]

Originally Posted by Al Bundy

Doesn't really matter to me. I'm straight... not sure how you come up with the "They will never be equal to us" thing though.

TMI

[nychief]

Originally Posted by loochy

What RIGHTS are gay people lacking in the USA besides the marriage thing (which is in debate, but will probably fall soon)?

While uncomfortable and unfortunate, being mocked or ridiculed does not impede upon one's rights.

Oh, I get it... you're slow. Totally. I was under the impression you were a dumb redneck, but it just hit me you are a full on reerun.

[loochy]

Originally Posted by nychief

Oh, I get it... you're slow. Totally. I was under the impression you were a dumb redneck, but it just hit me you are a full on reerun.

What RIGHTS are gay people lacking in the USA besides the marriage thing (which is in debate, but will probably fall soon)?

While uncomfortable and unfortunate, being mocked or ridiculed does not impede upon one's rights.

[Saul Good]

Originally Posted by HMc

Yes the Christian American theocracy is totally on board with rights equality. It's actually the gays' fault they aren't making faster progress. I need to start paying more attention, clearly.

You sound like a PETA member screaming slurs at people walking into KFC. Most people who eat meat still object to animal cruelty, and the vast majority of Americans eat meat. Most people of faith still object to gays being discriminated against, and the vast majority of Americans identify with one religion or another.

It may feel good to throw red paint on someone wearing a fur coat, but nobody has ever watched that happen and decided to change their ways and support the activist. Nobody witnesses your histrionics and decides "that guy just trivialized my belief in God while calling me a piece of shit...I should deeply consider his point of view."

I guess, if you aren't catching any flies, add more vinegar.

[Al Bundy]

Originally Posted by Donger

I didn't come up with it.

Well.. it did come out of your mouth.

[loochy]

Originally Posted by Al Bundy

Well.. it did come out of your mouth.

I don't think you are seeing his point.

Donger, please explain your statement.

[Saul Good]

Originally Posted by Donger

Homosexuals will never be "equal" with heterosexuals.

This seems to be an argument of semantics along the lines of "two dimes and a nickel will never equal a quarter". What purpose does it serve? I suppose you could argue that things can be equal without being identical, but that is just more semantics.

[Donger]

Originally Posted by Al Bundy

Well.. it did come out of your mouth.

Technically, no, since I typed it.

Nature/God/whatever you want to call it dictates that homosexuals will never be equal to heterosexuals with regard to the only reason we have male and female.

[Donger]

Originally Posted by Saul Good

This seems to be an argument of semantics along the lines of "two dimes and a nickel will never equal a quarter". What purpose does it serve? I suppose you could argue that things can be equal without being identical, but that is just more semantics.

I'm not arguing for equality.

[loochy]

Originally Posted by Saul Good

This seems to be an argument of semantics along the lines of "two dimes and a nickel will never equal a quarter". What purpose does it serve? I suppose you could argue that things can be equal without being identical, but that is just more semantics.

Isn't that what Donger does?

[Prison Bitch]

Originally Posted by Saul Good

I am a man of faith. I live in Kansas. I support equality of rights. There are others like me..

It is odd that you'd pick and choose what part of "faith" you'd want to accept. If one part of the bible is false, aren't they all?

[Saul Good]

Originally Posted by Donger

I'm not arguing for equality.

I don't know that anyone is arguing for "equality" in the sense that they want gays and straights to be identical.

[Garcia Bronco]

Originally Posted by HMc

That's almost as crazy as having a twin that was the opposite sex

From a testing perspective, a researcher cannot really eliminate genetics in testings and as close as you can get is identical twins.