I'm a 34-year-old NBA center. I'm black. And I'm gay.This is major good news, and I'm late to the party, as I often am. I am not a newspaper. Read the entire article and note the lovely stories about Jason's Aunt Teri and Uncle Mark. Actually, I was a bit teary as I read the story of Jason's courageous decision to come out, for it makes me sad that anyone still has to be brave in being honest about who they are. Jay is the first in a major league sport to state publicly that he is gay, but he is, by no means, the only gay player.
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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.
Although the great majority of responses have been supportive, there's Chris Broussard, a writer for ESPN, who believes a sermon about sin is the appropriate commentary on the cable channel to Jason's coming out. Crikey! What's going on? From his name and accent, I suspect Broussard is from Louisiana, and, if so, I'm embarrassed by the remarks from a fellow Louisianian.
Here's Broussard's non-apology apology:
"Today on OTL, as part of a larger, wide-ranging discussion on today's news, I offered my personal opinion as it relates to Christianity, a point of view that I have expressed publicly before. I realize that some people disagree with my opinion and I accept and respect that. As has been the case in the past, my beliefs have not and will not impact my ability to report on the NBA. I believe Jason Collins displayed bravery with his announcement today and I have no objection to him or anyone else playing in the NBA."Broussard has no objection? Who cares?
I object to his religious preaching during hours when kids can watch him denegrate a Gay man on T.V. (it's not his private channel)...I've, personally, had enough of remaining quiet for this kind of crap (as anyone around me will tell you). It's time for the pontificating demonizers of others to shut their fat traps (no matter where they are from, you are right, who cares?)!
ReplyDeleteLen, it is an awful moment. I can't imagine how Broussard thought "this kind of crap" was at all in order. I checked Broussard's bio, and he is, indeed, a home boy from Baton Rouge, LA. Name and shame.
DeleteApparently Broussard was asked to appear on the show and asked even though the inviters knew what his opinions would be; he did not initiate the discussion. The timing of the broadcast is the network's fault. Broussard's opinions are his fault.
ReplyDeleteMyself I'll take Jason as a fellow Stanford grad to be proud of.
Erp, I agree both ESPN and Broussard were at fault. But you don't have to answer a question just because someone asks. Broussard could have stepped around the question or just said that his job is to report on sports, and it would not be appropriate to give his opinion. Most certainly, he did not have to launch into a sermon about sin. Does he weigh in on players who are not married to their girl friends?
DeleteHe did express disapproval of "adultery, fornication, and premarital sex between two heterosexual persons." It may not have been the most appropriate time for a sermon about sin, but he didn't single out one type of sexual behavior to the exclusion of all others.
DeletePaul, that isn't really my point. The question of an opinion on the relationship of an unmarried player and his girlfriend would simply not have been asked, nor would the following judgment on the sinfulness of the relationship have been stated. And, for heaven's sake, at the time, Jason had not even stated he was in a relationship. Being gay is not only about sex.
DeleteThat's so true, Mimi - and I guaran-damn-tee you that the righteous Mr. Broussard knows at least a hundred straight people who are getting it on with the opposite sex or as it used to be said, living in sin. But would he ever launch into a Bible-thumping tirade against them - his good buddies?
DeleteWhy hell no.
Righteousness, as commonly practiced, is a very ugly thing.
Exactly, Russ. The self-righteous Broussard should have known he was stepping into a pile of the smelly stuff, and, because he's a public figure, he opened himself to the criticism that comes his way.
DeleteExactly. Who cares? ...
ReplyDeletePS Good for Jason Collins though - that's pretty brave.
ReplyDeleteBesides, fornication is such an old fashioned word. Who says that these days? People use the shorter four-letter word that starts with F.
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