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?
