So began the article Collins wrote for this week's issue of Sports Illustrated, declaring himself the first openly gay athlete actively participating in one of the big four American pro sports leagues.
Until now, most of us had never heard of Collins. He's played for six NBA teams in 12 seasons, which includes a stint with the Minnesota Timberwolves (2008-09). He ended this past season with the Washington Wizards, after having been traded midway by the Boston Celtics.
Everyone from Collins' fellow teammates past and present to President Barack Obama have congratulated him on making such an important personal decision. And he has every right to do that if that's the way he truly feels about himself.
We're not questioning the sincerity of Collins' announcing his sexual preference. Every gay rights activist and pundit had predicted such a thing would happen to an active male pro athlete sooner or later, and it just happened to be an NBA journeyman nearing the end of his career. It would have been a lot more earth-shattering if that someone had been a younger, better known (i.e. more marketable) athlete.
There are those who are comparing Collins to Jackie Robinson, the man who broke the color barrier in Major League Baseball. Please don't. Collins kept his sexual orientation to himself and a few close friends for years. Robinson could not hide his black skin. Similarly, gays and lesbians didn't come to America on slave ships, or were forced to use separate, inferior facilities.
Collins is by no means the first athlete to "out" himself. There have been others in professional sports, but they only made their preference public after retiring. You do see some lesbians actively participate in women's sports, and no one bats an eye.
So what does the future hold for Collins and any other gay professional athlete who chooses to come out? Since this is still a homophobic nation, in spite of all the poll numbers that tell us how tolerant we've allegedly become of our gay and lesbian brothers and sisters, they have a tough road ahead. They could expect to be treated differently in the locker room and on the field of play by some of their teammates. They could be the target of harassment by some fans. The sports leagues, fearing bad publicity, would find a way to put them to pasture. Or they could be accepted with open arms, creating a whole new fan base.
When Jason Collins made his decision, he might have felt comfortable in the knowledge that, in the twilight of his career, he had everything to gain and nothing to lose. He had the rest of his life to think about, whether it involves basketball or not. We can agree or disagree that Collins made the right choice. Ultimately, it was his choice that mattered..
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