I guess one day perhaps "coming out" is not going to be a big deal.

Until we walked in the shoes of a gay person we just don't know how "staying in" really affects them.

Here is my whole take, .....strait guys don't feel the need to announce our "straitness" so, why do gays feel the need to announce to the world their "homosexuality?" In my opinion, the very act of coming out is an intrusion to those who aren't interested, don't care and likely would rather NOT know.

The College I work for even has a "national coming out day" every couple of years like, the public at large really needs to know who's gay and who's not. I just don't get it.

Live and let live. Live your life, do what makes you happy and keep it moving. We don't need and public service announcements to inform the world at large of your sexuality. ITS YOUR BUSINESS NOT MINE!!!

DurzoBlint wrote:my whole thought is who really cares. I doubt strait players really want to know and why would they.

Here is my whole take, .....strait guys don't feel the need to announce our "straitness" so, why do gays feel the need to announce to the world their "homosexuality?" In my opinion, the very act of coming out is an intrusion to those who aren't interested, don't care and likely would rather NOT know.

The College I work for even has a "national coming out day" every couple of years like, the public at large really needs to know who's gay and who's not. I just don't get it.

Live and let live. Live your life, do what makes you happy and keep it moving. We don't need and public service announcements to inform the world at large of your sexuality. ITS YOUR BUSINESS NOT MINE!!!

Possibly might see some backlash if you lived in Mississippi or the Bible Belt, but if you're in the one of the bigger cities it's no big deal.

Britney Griner now Jason Collins. If this was the 70s or 80s maybe it'd be controversial. Martina Navratilova been out since 1981. I know, major sports, but this guy's a scrub. This ain't no "Jackie Robinson" barrier. Hell, he'd probably profited from that SI cover, maybe will get a talk show or book deal even with his mediocre NBA career. If it was a major icon or star of one of the big team sports, it'd be more news worthy.

Come the phuck out of the closet already, Gay marriage is legal in several major states. The President of the United States supports same sex marriage, it's cool for school now!

But if people start coming out over time it will be less and less harder to adjust in a pro locker room.

The biggest challenge Gay people face I would guess would be coming out to their families and loved ones. Of course, they'd have to be comfortable with that first before dealing with their sport.

Allanfan20 wrote:Come out. Why f' yourself mentally? Who cares if people don't want to hear it. Just admit your gay and move on with your life. Yes I know, easier said than done.

10 years ago I think most players would have sacrificed their careers by coming out

Thank God we live in the USA - there was a 25 y/o soccer player who came out and stopped playing because he knew the type of vitriol he would have to endure from the low culture hooligans in Europe. It's not as cut and dry as just living your life...

my best friend's brother was pretty active in his community and when the community found out he was gay they broke into his apartment, vandalized it, and spray painted death threats on damned near every surface in the apartment.

on a smaller scale, you got *******s like orangeblobman who baselessly point a finger and accuse random posters here like me of being gay as if it is insult. Just look at his idiotic thread about not being able to trust the team as far as he can throw them (he needs attention) or Google Marv's assessment of that dude's biggotry. Point is, you have to worry about the lowest filth of society is going to engage people on this issue

jrodmc wrote:I've now heard that Jason Collins is the next Jackie Robinson.

Seriously? Does that bother anyone?

that bothers me - it discounts Jackie's baseball greatness so tremendously that it is beyond absurd. also I think society is a little tamer than it was back then but maybe I'm being too optimistic on that point

Nalod wrote:

jrodmc wrote:I've now heard that Jason Collins is the next Jackie Robinson.

Seriously? Does that bother anyone?

Making a sacrifice for the embetterment of others who will follow.

He is the "Gay" Jackie Robinson. Jackie is a hero to the black community. Maybe Jayson is also.

We have all seen when some players get "squeezed" out on the court and what it can do to a career. No imagine because a man is gay he loses his endorsements and the trust of his team because of "ignorance". That is why no major athlete in a major league has come out. Like SupremeCommander wrote is true and while it shoudl nto be a big deal, it is!

Jackie was a hero but he also profited from being the first. He was not killed. He put himself in front of uglyness and was a Pioneer. Collins is a Pioneer as well. Jackie was no superstar player, others that came after him were.

Collins paved the way for another and at some point that player will be as good as the others and will do more.

Bottom line is we are far more comfortable in our 2013 integreated society than we were in the 1940's. People were uncomfortable with being around Black people for many ignorant reasons.

Not all Gay men want to be with all men. Just like a hetero wants to be with all women.

Not even close to Jackie Robinson. The comparison is likely disrespectful to Mr. Robinson's descendants.

jrodmc wrote:I've now heard that Jason Collins is the next Jackie Robinson.

Seriously? Does that bother anyone?

When did Jackie Robinson hide the fact that he was black? It was a known thing from birth.

Now when a gay star player comes up the ranks from a child, and pronounces his sexuality the first day he can speak, then maybe you can say it's somewhat close. But that will never happen, and this comparison will never hold any weight.

Collins is a roll player, getting ready for retirement. He's hoping the gay NBA community will follow his lead. But at this point, any star NBA or Pro Sports athlete gains nothing for coming out of the closet in his prime.