President Obama has joined the chorus of people commending NBA player Jason Collins for coming out publicly as gay.
After revealing his sexual orientation in a Sports Illustrated first-person essay this morning, Collins was inundated with hundreds of congratulatory messages from high-profile folks — and then he got a phone call from the White House.
An anonymous White House official confirmed to the publication that the president reached out to the NBA star to personally offer his support and say that he was impressed by Collins’ courage for publicly coming out.
First lady Michele Obama joined in the congratulations, tweeting, “So proud of you, Jason Collins! This is a huge step forward for our country. We’ve got your back!”
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Former President Bill Clinton, whose daughter Chelsea attended school with Collins, also acknowledged the progress made by the athlete’s announcement.
In a statement Clinton described Collins as “a good man who wants no more than what so many of us seek — to be able to be who we are, to do our work, to build families and to contribute to our communities.”
dvlaries
There’s a terrific Supremes song from 1967, “There’s No Stopping Us Now.” Time to listen to it a few rounds. 🙂
Kieran
This is a gesture we would expect from a class act like President Obama. One thing is sure, there would be no call from a Mitt Romney or John MaCain. Which is why those two losers will never be President of the US.
DOFEK
@Kieran: Kieran, what can you expecting from
fucking white republican? Christian?. I grow up in the Apartheid, South Africa,
I can tell you storis you`l shit in your pants of how the fucking white
Christian are in Africa! just like in the Americas! . AdamHomo
Caleb in SC
@DOFEK: You really need to temper the tone of your posts. I am not religious, but you offend me. You can comment/critique all you want, but if you expect tolerance and civility, you need to demonstrate those qualities also.
balehead
He’s always about the press oportunity now….If Obama got your back…then you better wear pants….
viveutvivas
Am I the only one who finds this a little ridiculous and over the top? I mean, every openly gay sissy boy in high school is probably doing something much more courageous than this guy did.
viveutvivas
This kind of gay-pandering is the new: “Some of my best friends are black.”
SSheehan
Ah, yes, but is he proud of the rest of us? Does he REALLY care about my sexual preference? Does he want to hear what turns me on or what satisfies me? Is he really interested? Damn, I am getting sick and tired of all the hype on ‘COMING OUT’.
What about the people who become sexually aroused over the thought of a decadent dessert, or a roller coaster ride? Do they need to ‘COME OUT’? LOL, I can’t even imagine!
I am who I am, period. I am a woman, a daughter, a sister, a mother, a grandmother, a lover, and a friend. Take me or leave me. It’s up to you, and I really don’t have the time or a reason to ‘COME OUT’.
I was never in hiding in the first place ?
Jayson
I’m almost starting to believe what I was told 22 years ago when I came out. Some older guy at the then “gay” club (not an intermingled snore fest of today, said to me; “It’s not the straights you should worry so much about, but the self-loathing queers that will do everything they can to knock you out and turn you out”. I wasn’t sure what he meant at the time, but as I matured…I sadly figured-it-out.