Detroit Piston Reggie Bullock is using his platform as an NBA star to raise awareness to LGBTQ equality.
In 2014, Bullock’s sister, Mia Henderson, was murdered in Baltimore. Henderson was a trans woman. Ever since then, Bullock, who identifies as straight, say he’s struggled to make sense of the violence and understand the transgender community.
Now, he and his team have announced they are partnering with GLAAD and other members of the LGBTQ community to encourage more conversation about inclusion in the NBA and beyond.
Following the death of @ReggieBullock35's transgender sister Mia Henderson, he has pledged to take a stand for Transgender awareness and acceptance. He met with representatives of @GLAAD & @AthleteAlly & hosted a Pride Night to show his support for the LGBTQ community. pic.twitter.com/cOOsFbuYtl
— Detroit Pistons (@DetroitPistons) March 31, 2018
But it doesn’t stop there.
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27-year-old Bullock has even made a permanent commitment to the cause. He had his sister’s name tattooed on his calf along with the letters “LGBTQ”:
Earlier this year, he worse Equality shoes during a game against the Atlanta Hawks. On the sole of the shoes he wrote his sister’s name:
And last summer, he posted a photo of his rainbow watchband to his Instagram page. The caption read, in part: “You are free to choose how you live, so I choose to stand for equality in the community and inclusion of all human beings.”
The man charged with Henderson’s death was acquitted by a jury two years ago. But Bullock is not dwelling on that. Instead, he is focused on honoring his slain sister’s memory and making the world and better and more compassionate place for LGBTQ people to live and thrive.
“A lot of people joke and do all these type of things about those type of people,” he said in a 2016 radio interview. “But me, it touches me, because I had a [sister], I had a person who was that way.
“I have come to accept trans people because I loved my sibling.”
h/t: Outsports
JerseyMike
FANTASTIC!!! Video made me cry!!! Thank you for standing up!!
Smith David
I am glad to have him as an ally. Although it’s difficult to reach people in the urban community, I hope his message of acceptance can help someone. God bless him.
JerseyMike
DavidSmith… the urban communities isn’t as anti-gay as you might think… of course when you ask a str8 man in front of his friends his opinion on gays what do you think he is going to say. There are just as many gay people in the urban communities as any other.. homophobia has been pushed by a religion that was forced on the community… There are a lot of people in the non-urban communities who don’t seem to be so welcoming either. republican party/evangelicals..
Lookyloo
“urban community” — lulz
Such a silly old code word.
You do know black people live in the sticks and suburbs, too, no?
– The American black population, in general, has some old-school homophobia issues. This is openly discussed in various progressive black-centric online setups.
– Whereas you referring to all black people as “urban”… well… that’s smells of a different kind of old-school bias. Such subtleties are also discussed in those same places.
thegrimmwood
@Lookyloo
-If you view the “urban community” as being the black community, then yeah, it’s racist. But I feel more and more it’s the lifestyle that makes one “urban”. For example, El-P is urban and white. Carlton is not urban and black.
-You seem to take issue with racism, while in the same post you racistly generalize about the “American black population.” Frankly, the homophobia that, to be fair, does appear to be prevalent in the black community is also the fault of the old school white regime to begin with.
mcflyer54
The true makings of a man. This is what humanity is supposed to look like. When you are secure in who you are you have no fear in helping others, who may be different, gain their acceptance.
Kangol
I really appreciate Reggie Bullock’s memorialization of his late sister and his important, pro-LGBTQ efforts. I also really appreciate that he has enlisted his teammates in spreading a message of inclusion and affirmation. Thank you for standing up for LGBTQ people, for equality, and for inclusion!
bowlingbutch
I am not into sports but this is a man who is attractive because of his intelligence and consciousness! Good for him to stand for equality and be so visual about it! This is an evolved man!
enlightenone
REAL men stand up ?!!
GayEGO
Excellent news, very brave and manly to stand up for LGBTQs.