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."

[loochy]

Originally Posted by Saul Good

Are you only straight while you're having sex with a woman?

Well that's when the definition of straight/not straight occurs (well that or when one is having naughty thoughts)

[patteeu]

Do the people who claim their only criticism of Jason Collins is that he's "making a big deal" out of his sexuality by coming out in such a public way have a problem with the guys (and occasional gal) in Buck's New Dating Megathread "making a big deal" about their dating escapades? Would you have a problem if a gay planeteer started chronicling his dates in a CP thread?

[HMc]

Originally Posted by Saul Good

Help celebrate an historic day for gay rights by taking a big, runny dump all over 80% of the population! Grab your brushes...the broader the better!

I'm a 34 year old white male. I am straight. I am married. I have two young children. I am upper middle class. I am a man of faith. I live in Kansas. I support equality of rights. There are others like me.

Guess what? Without people like me, gay rights never would come as far as it has, and it will never get where it needs to go. At this point, gay rights zealots are the biggest enemies of gay rights. Instead of celebrating all of the many factors at play which have made yesterday's events possible, they have chosen to further marginalize themselves.

There's a reason that, while I support the cause at the ballot box, I'm not going out of my way to gin up support. I'm simply not going to stand shoulder to shoulder with a bunch of hateful pricks.

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.

[loochy]

Originally Posted by patteeu

Would you have a problem if a gay planeteer started chronicling his dates in a CP thread?

No, because that is a relevant topic to that thread.

However, if the planeteer started his or her own thread and it just said "HAY EVERYONE IM GAI SO EVERYONE POSIREP ME" I'd be a bit annoyed, as I am here.

[HMc]

Originally Posted by loochy

Well that's when the definition of straight/not straight occurs (well that or when one is having naughty thoughts)

I do hope this is trolling.

[loochy]

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.

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.

[loochy]

Originally Posted by HMc

I do hope this is trolling.

? How is that trolling?

The definition of sexual orientation is should be a non factor unless sexually orienting or otherwise conducting related activities.

Edit: I guess it IS a factor, but it annoys me that it is.

[Donger]

Homosexuals will never be "equal" with heterosexuals.

[Al Bundy]

Originally Posted by Donger

Homosexuals will never be "equal" with heterosexuals.

Isn't there an oil well you can go masturbate in?

[loochy]

Originally Posted by Al Bundy

Isn't there an oil well you can go masturbate in?

I think he's stating that matter of factly as an observation of inherent human nature. Differences will always be pointed out, despite acceptance or rejection of those differences.

[Donger]

Originally Posted by Al Bundy

Isn't there an oil well you can go masturbate in?

Probably, but what I stated is accurate, if unpleasant for some.

[patteeu]

Originally Posted by loochy

No, because that is a relevant topic to that thread.

However, if the planeteer started his or her own thread and it just said "HAY EVERYONE IM GAI SO EVERYONE POSIREP ME" I'd be a bit annoyed, as I am here.

It's only relevant because Buck started the thread in the first place. Collins is starting a new public thread.

Collins public statement is noteworthy because it's such a rarity. When it becomes more commonplace, no one will be coming out in the pages of SI. I just don't see much reason to be annoyed by Collins' action. I agree with Saul Good that there is plenty to disagree with when it comes to other aspects of gay rights activism though.

[loochy]

Originally Posted by patteeu

It's only relevant because Buck started the thread in the first place. Collins is starting a new public thread.

Collins public statement is noteworthy because it's such a rarity. When it becomes more commonplace, no one will be coming out in the pages of SI. I just don't see much reason to be annoyed by Collins' action. I agree with Saul Good that there is plenty to disagree with when it comes to other aspects of gay rights activism though.

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?

[Al Bundy]

Originally Posted by Donger

Probably, but what I stated is accurate, if unpleasant for some.

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.

[ChiefsLV]

Originally Posted by Saul Good

Yeah, it's been just awful. Everyone is just gay bashing in this thread.

The most interesting thing to me about this whole story to me is that so many of the gay rights supporters seem pissed that there is so little outrage. I haven't seen anyone freak out over a gay athlete, but I've seen plenty of people bashing religious people for being hateful.

I support the cause, but the martyr complex is out of control. I would think that the narrative to come from this would be that a gay player came out and was almost universally accepted.

The most negative reactions so far seem to be people saying "who cares" or Mike Wallace saying that he doesn't get why a guy would want to get with another guy. I don't see anyone grabbing a rope. This is a perfect chance for gay rights activists to extend an olive branch, but it's just another occasion to throw stones, it seems. Keep wondering why the cause is progressing so slowly, though. It must be everyone else's fault, especially those piece of shit bigoted, hateful Christian mother****ers.

Funny, here I thought gay rights issues and acceptance were progressing faster than ever before. I need to check up on the monthly CP homosexuality threads more often and really get educated on the subject.