Veteran NBA center Collins becomes first active openly gay athlete

REUTERS

Wizards' Jason Collins (R) became the first actively gay athlete on Monday.

Jason Collins, a 14-year NBA veteran who is currently a free agent, became the first active openly gay athlete to announce his homosexuality.

In a Sports Illustrated article that debuted on Monday, Collins said he hoped someone else would have done so before him, but felt it was important so that other gay athletes could come forward as well.

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

There have been numerous retired athletes who have come out, but not one that was still playing until Collins did so on Monday. He said he isn't sure what the reaction will be like from his peers, but hopes it is positive.

"I've been asked how other players will respond to my announcement. The simple answer is, I have no idea. I'm a pragmatist. I hope for the best, but plan for the worst," he wrote.

Several NBA players took to twitter to show their support for Collins, including Baron Davis, who tweeted: "I am so proud of my bro @jasoncollins34 for being real. #FTheHaters"

Collins, 34, said in the article that he dated women when he was younger and was even engaged because he "thought he had to live a certain way" even though he knew he was gay. He said the reason he didn't come out sooner was because he didn't want to be a distraction to his teammates.

"Loyalty to my team is the real reason I didn't come out sooner. When I signed a free-agent contract with Boston last July, I decided to commit myself to the Celtics and not let my personal life become a distraction. When I was traded to the Wizards, the political significance of coming out sunk in. I was ready to open up to the press, but I had to wait until the season was over," Collins wrote.

Collins said he knew he had to let the public know after his former college roommate marched in the Boston Gay Pride Parade in 2012, something he wanted to do but wasn't ready to deal with the questions he would be asked had he done so.

Collins, whose twin brother Jarron had a 10-year NBA career, played for seven seasons with the Nets before playing for the Grizzlies, Timberwolves, Hawks Celtics and Wizards. He has averaged 3.6 points per game over his career.

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