Jason Collins, NBA center, comes out

So far, it seems, the collective reaction has been a big sigh of "who cares?" which is certainly refreshing. We have gay politicians, gay news anchors, gay actors, gay CEOs. What's the big deal about a gay basketball player?

Mr.Tea wrote:

So far, it seems, the collective reaction has been a big sigh of "who cares?" which is certainly refreshing. We have gay politicians, gay news anchors, gay actors, gay CEOs. What's the big deal about a gay basketball player?

I think Jason Collins answers that very well:

Quote:

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." If I had my way, someone else would have already done this. Nobody has, which is why I'm raising my hand.

to the question, why is this coming-out so different?

three words: MEN'S TEAM SPORTS

 ... each element militates against disclosure, whereas female stage performer (gasp, gays in showbusiness!), true, who cares

It's a very backward and disgusting country, so I suppose we should be appreciative of small gestures.

Let me know when a professional player (or any other celebrity of any kind whatsoever) in the U.S. calls in the media to announce: "I've converted to Islam!"

Unionist wrote:

It's a very backward and disgusting country, so I suppose we should be appreciative of small gestures.

Let me know when a professional player (or any other celebrity of any kind whatsoever) in the U.S. calls in the media to announce: "I've converted to Islam!"

Are you serious? Ever heard of Muhammad Ali (formerly Cassius Clay) or Kareem Abdul Jabbar (formerly Lew Alcindor)?

There are quite a few Muslim pro athletes and quite a few of them are converts. 

I think its significant for a black gay man to come out as the first openly gay NBA player.

Mr.Tea wrote:

There are quite a few Muslim pro athletes and quite a few of them are converts. 

Ever hear of 9/11? I'm obviously not talking about the distant past, before the wholesale demonization of Islam. As I said, let me know when you hear about a public conversion. It's virtually inconceivable.

And ODA, I apologize for what seems like misdirection. But this thread is about the United States and its evil backward attitude toward sexual minorities. I said we should be appreciative of small gestures, and I meant it. But it really is a small gesture, and it doesn't make a significant dent in the homophobic and misogynistic world of male team "sports". That's my estimation - I hope I'm wrong.

Just to recall some earlier pioneers:

Sheryl Swoopes announced she was lesbian just after being named MVP for the WNBA in 2005. She was then subjected to the usual U.S. ridicule and frenzy when she became engaged to a man in 2011 - "proof" that sexual orientation is a "lifestyle choice". Here's a really good counterattack by Maya Rupert, Federal Policy Director, National Center for Lesbian Rights.

Then there was Glenn Burke, who came out as gay to his teammates and coaches in the L.A. Dodgers and Oakland A's in the 1970s, and then publicly in 1982. His post-MLB life went from one tragedy to another - drug addiction, homelessness - until he died in 1995 of AIDS complications at the age of 42.

Crossed benches on this one. Nice to see someone breaking out of the closet in one of the better known incubation chambers for homophobia (and rape culture for that matter, the essential nature of team sports hasn't magically changed overnight) - but isn't this really just another manifestation of infotainment? It has been just over 24 hours and I am already gettng more than a little tired of references to the "bravery" and "courage" of anyone who enjoys the kind of financial insulation from the consequences of their coming out as a professional athlete does (and a contract for $1.35 million per year strikes me as a pretty cozy amount of insulation).

Rather than going on about his "bravery" and "courage", where is the critique of team sports in general and professional team sports in particular that makes them such a hotbed of homophobic and sexist attitudes in the first place? When will the spotlight be turned to the "pack" mentality that all too often goes along with team identification? Where is the accounting of the costs of elite sport - and I don't mean the ticket prices at the arenas and stadiums, but how it negatively impacts thousands and thousands of lives - those who sacrifice educational possibilities in the pursuit of the "dream" of becoming a professional athlete as well as the costs to the educational system itself when often scarce resources are allocated to competitive athletic teams at the expense of accessible fitness opportunites for all students?

In regards to Jason Collins as an individual, I applaud his choice to come out. I applaud anyone who makes the decision. My mixed feelings are entirely directed towards the media and their coverage. It infuriates me that they are so blinded by their own mythology about the virtue of competitive athletics and their fixation with casting all stories in terms of villians and heroes that they will continue to devote column inches and broadcast time to what is essentially a celebrity sideshow.

Yeah, there really does need to be an examination of why, exactly, team sports use so much implicit(and, often explicit)homophobia(and, in men's sports, misogyny as well) in their training regimens...

Why is there this belief that someone can only excel as a team athlete by being made to feel that they constantly have to prove that they fit into a rigid definition of gender roles and sexuality expectations? 

Why, in the eyes of so many coaches and other sports hierarchs, is it so important to include massive shaming about gender and sexuality as part of the "teambuilding" process?

Who decided that it wasn't enough simply to try to be good at whatever game you're playing?  Or that you couldn't BE good at the game without being broken down and built up again like a Marine recruit?

And why is it so important to identify team sports not simply as games, but as a kind of war, and a preparation for war?

For God's sakes, Sparta fell milennia ago.  There have to be OTHER models for achievement in team endeavors out there.

http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2013/05/01/wisconsin-church-cancels-former-nf...

“I was schedule[d] to speak at a church in WI, and a member said that the pastor wants to cancel my event, I said ok why?” .

“Then I was told, because I said congrats to Jason Collins on twitter, I said really? we have a contract, he said check the moral [clause].”

Butler noted that the speaking fee had been $8,500, but “I was told if i removed the tweet, and apologize and ask god forgiveness, I can have the event, I said no.”

Michael Sam coming out is a much bigger deal than Jason Collins. Collins was at the end of his career. Sam's hasn't even started yet. It took a lot of courage for him to do what he did and I certainly hope it doesn't negatively impact his chances of making it to the NFL.