NBA veteran Jason Collins announces he is gay

NBA veteran Jason Collins set aside years of worry and silence to become the first active player in one of four major US professional sports leagues to come out as gay.

The long time veteran was tough, smart, and resilient made a living of defending the opposition solid big men. He made a name at defending and taking charges from guys like Shaquille O'Neal and Dwight Howard. For a player who couldn't run the offense, he framed up professionalism and understanding the meaning of "self" in the NBA.

Collins has played for six teams in 12 seasons, most recently as a reserve with the Washington Wizards after a midseason trade from the Boston Celtics. He is now a free agent and wants to keep playing in the NBA.

"I didn't set out to be the first openly gay athlete playing in a major American team sport. But since I am, I'm happy to start the conversation. I wish I wasn't the kid in the classroom raising his hand and saying, 'I'm different,'" according to NBA veteran Jason Collins. "If I had my way, someone else would have already done this. Nobody has, which is why I'm raising my hand."

According to a tweet made by Los Angeles Lakers superstar Kobe Bryant that he was proud of Collins, writing: "Don't suffocate who u r because of the ignorance of others," followed by the words "courage" and "support."

According to Collins, he quietly made a statement for gay rights even while keeping his sexual orientation a secret. He wore No. 98 with the Celtics and Wizards. 1998 was year that Matthew Shepard, a gay college student in Wyoming, was killed, and the Trevor Project, a suicide prevention organization, was founded.

After President Obama spoke about his support on gay-marriage during his re-election campaign, momentum on such on sports personalities were bound to happen. According to the General Social Survey, the public has grown increasingly accepting of gay relationships since the late 1980s. That survey found in 1987 that 76 percent of Americans thought sexual relations between adults of the same sex was morally wrong. That fell to 43 percent by 2012.

According to, NBA Commissioner David Stern: "Jason has been a widely respected player and teammate throughout his career and we are proud he has assumed the leadership mantle on this very important issue."

Female athletes have found more acceptance in coming out; Brittney Griner, a top college basketball player now headed to the WNBA, caused controversies when she said this month she is a lesbian.

According to a statement made by President Clinton: "Jason's announcement today is an important moment for professional sports and in the history of the LGBT community. It is also the straightforward statement of 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. For so many members of the LGBT community, these simple goals remain elusive."

His twin brother, Jarron, was also a longtime NBA center who last played in the league in the 2010-11 season. Collins says he told his brother he was gay last summer.