Tim Hardaway has come a long way in seven-months. When the former basket baller first caught our eye, he’d just told the world that he “hates gay people”. In fact, he loathed the lavenders so much, Hardaway said he’d cross the street if he saw a homo approaching.
Following the firestorm, Hardaway shrank from the public eye and made a concerted effort to get himself some education. And the 41-year old put his new knowledge to use Wednesday night during a discussion on transgender rights in Miami. About forty people had gathered to discuss raising awareness - and, ultimately, acceptance - and Hardaway offered his freshly progressive views. One activist referred to Hardaway’s remarks as “the perfect answer” on how to keep trans kids safe. Perfect? That’s pretty incredible.
Speaking to the press after the meeting, Hardway described the scandal as “the biggest bump in my life”. The former Miami Heat player said he knew he made a mistake and needed to rectify the situation:
I just wanted to go in and get educated, that’s all. Get educated on what I said and why I said those things. I’m working on understanding it now. I’m not really trying to make amends. I’ve been there trying to get help.
I had no idea how much I hurt people. A lot of people.
In an effort to change his ways, Hardaway headed to the Yes Institute, which fights for queer kids. Now a regular face at the Institute, Hardway seems content with his new perspective, telling reporters:
I have taken steps and I’m happy that I did. If I didn’t, I’d still be naive about it, ignorant about the whole thing. But I can talk about it now. I’m a polite person. That’s how I am.
Hardaway’s a “Hate-A-Gay” no more!
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Jossip Initiatives
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Perhaps it’s time for me to re-evaluate my belief that anti-gay people can’t change.
I think me has to go to the Yes Institute and play with his balls to see if it’s true.
people (especially rich people) tend to live in their bubble. they have their life. they don’t see the plight of those that are different. they have an opinion, they blurt it out. what they do once they see what’s going on… THAT becomes their true character.
anti-gay people can always change. so can racists. But they have to want to AND they have to see the need… and they have to fight against how they were raised (or whatever reason they found for such a fear).
south florida has been going through a shit storm, mainly because of Jim Naugle. nobody (gay or straight) really understands this. naugle also tried to bring in the black community, part of which didn’t like the tone of his hate. this could have played a factor, you never know.
Paul, anti-gays can most definitely change, especially if bigotry is to their disadvantage (the NBA dropped Hardaway from all official appearances after the comments). I can’t tell you how many stories I have heard from people who grew up in rural areas or ultra-conservative households with anti-gay bias, but once out of the nest befriended some GLBT people and had a completely different perspective. That is why it is important for people to come out.
I can give you my own personal example, while working through the issues of transition and coming out to my employer my therapist asked me what my boss was like. I told her he grew up on a farm, owned a ton of livestock, and liked to shoot rodents in his spare time. Her reply was, “oh you’re in trouble”, but I knew he would more than likely be accepting because we had, on more than one occasion, discussed his two lesbian nieces. Bottom line he was and remains totally cool with it, and I am still employed.
I think if homophobia (or racism) genuinely stems from ignorance and/or fear of the unknown then, yes, it is possible to change, especially if something happenes to make you confront things. It depends how deep set someone’s feelings are.