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Current NBA player Jason Collins comes out as gay

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*TURBONERD*
Posts: 15098 - Karma: 9,309
I hope this is the start down the path where nobody cares about an athlete's sexuality. Regardless, this is incredibly courageous.
http://www.cnn.com/2013/04/29/sport/collins-gay/index.html
12 years ago
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49566738265
Posts: 0 - Karma: 7,705
I didn't think anyone did already, I thought there were gay players and didn't even know no one was openly so. Not sure it's headline news though.
12 years ago
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*TURBONERD*
Posts: 15098 - Karma: 9,309
The first currently playing athlete to come out in any of the four major US sports? I'd argue it's a pretty big step, especially given the hypermasculinity and heteronormativity associated with professional male sports.
12 years ago
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theabortionator
Posts: 52427 - Karma: 171,892
Ew, that's fucking weird. I used to think he was cool.
12 years ago
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t_rob
Posts: 6433 - Karma: 11,460
Hey guys, this is something in the future we don't think is going to be a big deal so let's make a huge fucking deal about it right now while we can still can.
12 years ago
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theabortionator
Posts: 52427 - Karma: 171,892
But seriously just read the article. That's awesome.

Some people will think it's not a big deal but honestly it is. There's a reason nobody else has done it, not because there aren't gay players, but because of fear of public ridicule. When you're in the public eye to the extent of the professional athletes anything you do or say is viewed by millions.

I understand why they do it but it's pretty sad. It just goes to show the state of things at this point in time. Even as an accomplished athlete making millions you can't be yourself.

Hopefully this will be well received and let others know that when they're ready the world can handle the news with a generally positive response. At some point it would be nice if it was a complete non issue, but that's going to be a while. Even race is still a big issue, it's fucking 2013.

Wake up, stop being a fucking bigot, and show some respect to your fellow humans.

/rant
12 years ago
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bakedpow
Posts: 8770 - Karma: 10,467
props to the man for sure.
12 years ago
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theabortionator
Posts: 52427 - Karma: 171,892
Idk. There's def the mentality to make a big deal out of nothing all the time but for me this is a big deal.

Obviously there's a problem. Nobody else has said fuck it and come out, so it is a pretty big deal when you have millions of eyes on you and your the first.

It's not like race where you can clearly tell if somebody is black or white, and how you feel about that is up to you. Instead of coming out somebody could follow the trends of society and pretend to be "normal". To get people to break out of that especially under that much pressure is a big deal.

We've been working toward race equality for years and though things are better, it still isn't even close to being awesome. It's going to be a long time before people are able to ditch the bullshit and view people as people.

12 years ago
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BoogieWoman
Posts: 408 - Karma: 664
Wait, what about John Amaechi? I thought he was out whilst playing for the Houston Rockets?
12 years ago
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pmw
Posts: 5760 - Karma: 831
Click for larger image
12 years ago
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t_rob
Posts: 6433 - Karma: 11,460
I admit what I said could have came out the wrong way. The second I read your first post I was like fuck, this might not go over too well.

Of course it's a big step to be the first of anything and kudos for him for being the first in the NBA. It's cool to see tweets from NBA players saying congrats or that doesn't change how I'm going to approach you. I just feel like the country is a lot farther ahead than the media is handling this. There's already 100s of articles about it online.

After the military, I would have thought everyone would have finally realized that not all homosexual males are limp wristed fashion designers and not all homosexual woman are buzz cut'd steal workers. With 390 players on NBA rosters, chances are a few of them are gay. People have come out in all sorts of professions and a few olympians as well, the NBA or any major team sport shouldn't be a surprise.

To me, this is the surprise that no one should be surprised about.
12 years ago
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Mr.Sloth
Posts: 5091 - Karma: 13,471
Currently gay Newschooler Mr.Sloth comes out as NBA player
12 years ago
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theBearJew
Posts: 10951 - Karma: 15,634
I watched something that was about Gareth Thomas a Wales rugby player who came out while playing. He was the first in major sports to do it. I thought it was a really cool story, I think it was OTL on ESPN. Can't find it now but the dude was a beast.
12 years ago
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ElGayo
Posts: 91 - Karma: -40
Who the fucking cares and this is breaking news
12 years ago
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Jewschoolers
Posts: 1785 - Karma: 1,142
i think its a big deal for older people but id say the majority of young people are for gay rights
12 years ago
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theabortionator
Posts: 52427 - Karma: 171,892
I agree that there's this overkill media bandwagon to make sure there news group is viewed as sensitive. The same way school brochures make sure that they include a white person, black person, asian person, and a girl in each photo to make sure people know they aren't racist or sexist.

The world is still weird though. I remember my mom talking about how she liked a certain actor but then he came out, shit like that. You'd think things would be cool, I doesn't make sense that they aren't, but there's still a ton of weird tension out there.

YOLO
12 years ago
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GayWolf420
Posts: 37980 - Karma: 128,251
This is cool. Props to him. I really hope there is no negative consequences from sponsors or coaches or whatever. And I hope this is the start of the "who fucking cares" age on sexuality.
12 years ago
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Miomo
Posts: 4302 - Karma: 14,137
Making awkward locker room boners even more awkward...
12 years ago
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t-roy
Posts: 4041 - Karma: 52
can you imagine the media storm if sponsors dropped him all of a sudden....
12 years ago
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assface
Posts: 4319 - Karma: 2,031
its a huge deal

sports players/fans/culture is possibly the last major area of american society (besides traditional conservatives/religious folks) where anti-gay attitudes are still acceptable, to some extent.

it also begins to dispel the myth that gay people are bad at sports.

Im straight #YOLOswag
12 years ago
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assface
Posts: 4319 - Karma: 2,031
he also came out as black, which i found more surprising. Quote: "I am black. And I am gay"
12 years ago
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louie.mirags
Posts: 6015 - Karma: 5,027
Not a huge deal.. if it's not supposed to matter, then, why are they making it a big deal?

because people like you are buying into the story..show your support by showing it doesn't matter
12 years ago
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AT-AT
Posts: 3281 - Karma: 3,258
well said.

12 years ago
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JDA
Posts: 572 - Karma: 566
Some of you may have heard of Robbie Rogers, he came over to England to play for my team Leeds United which did not work out so well, so set up a clothing business alongside his football career. When he came out he felt that there was no option to carry on playing which is pretty sad but totally understandable with some of the songs which would have been aimed at him.
12 years ago
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theabortionator
Posts: 52427 - Karma: 171,892
It's not supposed to matter but it does matter. Race shouldn't matter but don't tell me that the civil rights milestones back then didn't matter.

There are a ton of ignorant fucks out there, especially ignorant middle aged men who love sports. The policy is make you money, that once you're a has been maybe then come out. It's cool for somebody to just say fuck it and go for it. That's a necessary step in getting to the point where nothing matters.



Click for larger image

^ This sums up my feelings quite well.
12 years ago
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PeppermillReno
Posts: 4884 - Karma: -726
I think he's a fake ass wanna be gay man if hes 7 feet tall 280 pounds or so, likes some cock, and isn't raping the attractive smaller players on his team in the showers. Shouldn't "prison ball" mean something else to him?

Also, Collins barely played this year. He probably was never going to see another NBA paycheck again. He comes out now and is guaranteed to be a celebrity for life (instead of some plug noone remembers) and will probably be signed for PR reasons by a team next year.

Sucks at basketball and sucks at being gay. I'd have more respect for him if he opened up about what other NBA players he made his bitch.
12 years ago
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.Apex.
Posts: 2097 - Karma: 1,556
More gays means more ladies for us
12 years ago
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Huck_Norris
Posts: 11487 - Karma: 18,627
Inb4 Nike sponsors his butthole
12 years ago
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RimJobber
Posts: 3313 - Karma: 10,058
Just do it
12 years ago
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TheClap.
Posts: 21684 - Karma: 4,240
actually laughed, well played sir
12 years ago
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Huck_Norris
Posts: 11487 - Karma: 18,627
Thank god someone knocked that lobbed pitch out of the park immediately lol
12 years ago
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RimJobber
Posts: 3313 - Karma: 10,058
I know, I looked at it and saw the perfect set-up, courtesy of the great Huck_Norris
12 years ago
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GayWolf420
Posts: 37980 - Karma: 128,251
Its a financial and moral thing too. Do you want to support a company that dropped one of their gay athletes because he openly came out? Fuck no, I wouldn't.
12 years ago
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iSmokeweed
Posts: 4793 - Karma: 1,370
first time im proud to be a wizards fan since..... like 2006
12 years ago
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grapejuice3000+
Posts: 2132 - Karma: 1,985
my mom is watching fox news and theyve been talking about this for like 20 minutes... the mere fact that this is a headline and people are actually talking about it makes me sick. it shows that no matter what these big websites say, and what people say, they are still prejudiced against gays. fuck the media, fuck everybody.
12 years ago
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CashmereCat
Posts: 2211 - Karma: 2,395
Big ups to him.
12 years ago
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HamFaceGirl
Posts: 5242 - Karma: 2,683
lololol
12 years ago
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nagger
Posts: 1576 - Karma: 883
yeah I don't get why this is a big deal. basketball player likes cock in his spare time. what else is there to discuss?
12 years ago
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Bogs
Posts: 4296 - Karma: 1,361
Considering he is the first athlete to come out as gay in a major American sport, yeah, it's kind of a big deal, the same way it was a big deal when Jackie Robinson was the first black player in the major leagues, even though no one gives a shit about race in sports now.

Which isn't to say I think this is as big a deal as what Robinson did, but it's definitely a big deal.
12 years ago
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JWeinstock
Posts: 3439 - Karma: 1,352
idk. maybe that he is the first person in all of the four major sports to come out. maybe that this is a HUGE step towards allowing gay marriage
12 years ago
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nagger
Posts: 1576 - Karma: 883
I don't get why that's a big deal. why does everyone care so much that he's gay

and I'm sure once the government sees this news they'll legalize gay marriage everywhere. I mean, HE'S IN THE NBA!!!1!!11
12 years ago
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jackf
Posts: 231 - Karma: 416
people probably wont agree.. but this is along the same line as the Jackie Robinson situation.  Even though it was obvious Jackie Robinson was different from the norm, the fact that Collins is currently the only one to come out, he is fighting the norms and what is normally expected of pro athletes
12 years ago
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Bogs
Posts: 4296 - Karma: 1,361
Jesus you're stupid. Or maybe just really young, I don't know. American sports is an extremely heteronormative institution where masculinity, in a very traditional sense, reigns supreme. Pro athletes in America are looked at as examples of "real men," and, up to very recently, this meant there was no room to be gay in professional sports. Had this happened 5 or 10 years ago, the athlete certainly would have been publicly ridiculed and abused for not being straight, and probably forced into retirement. It's a big deal because no professional athlete in America playing one of the four major sports (baseball, football, basketball, hockey) has come out as publicly gay before. It shows that our society has moved past the point where someone in such a public, traditionally masculine position has been able to admit to being gay without being run out of town by fellow athletes and coaches and the media.
12 years ago
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whoa-dere
Posts: 10596 - Karma: 7,105
gotta be eheath
12 years ago
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-Robert
Posts: 2000 - Karma: 1,492
In your second paragraph, you're right. Nobody would have even thought about coming out as homosexual 30 years ago because they would get ripped apart from the public. The public today would probably praise this guy. And people will respect him and some won't. The media will be all over this and others will start doing it(maybe). It just goes to show how society's influences change our thinking. It also shows how much society has changed.
12 years ago
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Mr.Mitten
Posts: 1341 - Karma: 4,130
Now it's Bosh's turn
12 years ago
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skier_boy26
Posts: 11295 - Karma: 502
I agreed with Chris Clemons' stuff last month, and still do. 'Coming out' does merit some respect, but good god does it need to be headline news everywhere? All it did was shine a big ass spotlight on somebody, and will be a fucking distraction any time Collins plays. Was it necessary?

It ins't like this is Robinson playing in the bigs. This... is overblown.
12 years ago
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.frenchy
Posts: 18231 - Karma: 12,398
Go play in the Japan league now, big guy.
12 years ago
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theabortionator
Posts: 52427 - Karma: 171,892
I haven't talked to him in a while but I used to talk to him a decent amount. It's something that's different for everyone. Everyone has different concerns, different values etc. As much as I'm down to go YOLO and let the haters hate I can blame somebody for not.

Especially in any spot where you're in the public image/ depending on different companies and your public image for your career to an extent. It's a tough call.

At the same time though if somebody in a position like that did come out it would help to show kids that it really doesn't fucking matter. I went through some weird shit at the mountain I worked at. I had been there for 3 years working my ass off to give the kids a decent park. A lot of kids were cool about it, some kids straight stopped talking to me.

Hell even my boss tried to start shit with the kids there because they didn't like that he hired his gaper friend on park crew. That was awesome. Hearing from young kids some of the fucked up shit your boss said to them about you.

And that's from a person that's "in the ski industry". Not everyone is as laid back as the vibe of a sunny day spring park lap.
12 years ago
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