If there are three things Jason Collins knows how to beat, it’s basketball, homophobia, and, as it turns out, COVID-19.
In March 2020, the retired NBA star revealed that he and his boyfriend, Brunson Green, had contracted the virus while visiting New York in early March. Collins was there to serve as special guest of Brooklyn’s Pride Night game against the Grizzlies, when he learned several players later tested positive.
“That’s when we connected the dots that we have it,” Collins told the New York Daily News, before describing the symptoms that came along with it. “It felt like I got punched by Mike Tyson. Like Mike Tyson in his prime, right in the heart.”
Collins and his boyfriend eventually beat the virus. But more noteworthy than his recovery is Collins’ role within the LGBTQ community.
How about we take this to the next level?
Our newsletter is like a refreshing cocktail (or mocktail) of LGBTQ+ entertainment and pop culture, served up with a side of eye-candy.
In 2013, Collins made history when he came out in an issue of Sports Illustrated. The move cemented his role as the NBA’s first openly gay player–at least publicly.
“There are still no publicly gay players in the NFL, NHL, or major league baseball. Believe me: They exist. Every pro sport has them. I know some of them personally.” he famously shared in 2014.
“When we get to the point where a gay pro athlete is no longer forced to live in fear that he’ll be shunned by teammates or outed by tabloids, when we get to the point where he plays while his significant other waits in the family room, when we get to the point where he’s not compelled to hide his true self and is able to live an authentic life, then coming out won’t be such a big deal. But we’re not there yet.”
Collins’ coming out was met with hundreds of messages of support from other pro athletes… along with Oprah Winfrey and Barack Obama, no bd.
Though he has since retired from the NBA, Collins uses his platform to fight for justice and equality both within sports and the LGBTQ community.
According to OutSports, the NBA donated $100k+ to GLSEN and the Matthew Shepard Foundation because of him. He also continues to work with the NBA to speak out against relevant social issues, like bullying among LGBTQ youth.
But most importantly, Collins has changed the game (puns are fun, okay?!) when it comes to LGBTQ players in sports. He has opened the doors for many others to live authentically.
Since him, pro athletes such as Michael Sam, Robbie Rogers, and many more have all come out. Not to mention, he is living proof that playing sports and being LGBTQ does not have to be mutually exclusive. Now that’s a slam dunk in itself, is it not? Welcome to the Pride50, Jason!
Queerty’s Editorial Director Chris Bull got the chance to talk with Collins about Pride50 and so much more. Here’s what he had to say:
Kangol2
I’m glad Jason Collins and his boyfriend recovered from Covid-19. They caught it just when it was starting to explode in NYC and across the country, and so many others didn’t survive. Collins should get a lot more credit for his pioneering step with the NBA and pro sports in general, so he’s a great selection for this series. I also do wish more of the guys he knew were on the DL would feel empowered to come out, but I also do respect people’s right to make their own choices on being out. At this point, though, especially for guys who’ve retired, it’s somewhat easier than it was even 10 or 20 years ago in terms of public attitudes, and it really does help change public attitudes.
Donston
He was kinda forced to “come out” due to his ex wife. And by the time he “came out” his relevance as a player was done, and he was more of a token than anything else. But it’s still a semi big deal that a “gay” identifying dude was playing in the NBA. It is a shame that in all the NBA, NFL, MLB, NHL we still don’t have any active players who are publicly “gay”, “queer”, unabashedly indulges same-sex passions and relationships. It just shows how much male homophobia, hetero pressures, “gay” embarrassment, male insecurities, toxic masculinity are still things. I thought there’d be at least a few by now. Still, I do get difficult it can be with so much money on the line and potential unwanted attention and that everyone has their own dimensions, struggles and journeys when it comes to self-understanding, sexuality, love, psychology and the orientation spectrum.
Kangol2
Donston, a little clarification. Jason Collins never married his fiancee, Carolyn Moos, so she wasn’t his ex-wife. They were in a 9-year relationship, but he never put a ring on it, and broke up in 2009. He came out in 2013. In fact, she only learned that he was gay shortly before he came out; she did not pressure him to come out, so I’m not sure where that story came from. The other thing is that he was and is the only openly gay active NBA player so far; after coming out, he did play for an addition season with the Nets, I believe, his old team, once they’d moved to Brooklyn. So it’s more than a “semi big deal.” He’s the only one so far, ever, or if you imagine someone in the NBA will eventually join him, 8 years and counting.
Donston
Sorry for the wife/fiancé mix up. But there were indeed rumors that after he broke up with her (leaving her for a dude) she was gonna out him. Of course, there’s no reason for her to admit that. It’d be a bad look for both of them. Could be a bs rumor. Maybe not. Who knows?
It was a “big deal” in that it was a big story at the time and was certainly a big deal for Collins on a personal level. But there weren’t any rippling effects. It didn’t lead to any more players in the NBA, NFL, NHL, MLB being “out”. It didn’t help reduce some hetero pressures and toxic masculinity. While we still haven’t seen any unabashed, casual male “queerness” in those leagues and haven’t seen unabashed, casual same-sex passions, romantic affections, relationships. It ended up feeling more like an opportunity for the NBA to show how “progressive” they are for a few months. Not too different from Michael Sam’s impact. That’s not to take away from his difficult it probably was for him. In order for a real shift it’d probably have to come from someone still relevant and with years to play, not someone who most people assumed was about to retire until he “came out”. It’d also probably need to come from someone who can both be casual and confident with it, not scary but also not trying to be a “queer mascot”.
amanwithanedge
please, nothing’s changed because of him.