The LGBTQ+ community is mourning the loss of groundbreaking athlete Jason Collins, the first openly gay active player in the National Basketball Association. Collins passed away on Tuesday after a battle with stage 4 glioblastoma, an aggressive form of brain cancer. He was 47 years old.
According to his family, he passed away peacefully at home surrounded by his loved ones.
A historic moment in LGBTQ+ visibility in sports
Collins made his historic comments publicly in 2013 that forever changed the landscape of professional sports. sports illustrated cover story. At the time, no active NBA, NFL, MLB, or NHL player had come out publicly while competing. His decision was a watershed moment for LGBTQ+ visibility in sports and beyond.
“I’m a 34-year-old NBA center. I’m black. And I’m gay,” he wrote.
“I didn’t set out to be the first openly gay athlete to play in a major team sport in the United States, but it is and I’m happy to start the conversation. I wish I hadn’t been that kid who raised his hand in the classroom and said, ‘I’m different.'” If I had done it my way, someone else would have already done this. I’m raising my hand because no one else has. ”
During his 13-year career, Collins played for the New Jersey Nets, Memphis Grizzlies, Minnesota Timberwolves, Atlanta Hawks, Boston Celtics, Washington Wizards and Brooklyn Nets. He announced his retirement in 2014.
His influence extended beyond basketball.
His courage resonated beyond basketball. Collins revealed that after coming out publicly, he received calls from both Oprah Winfrey and former President Barack Obama, who told him his visibility would positively impact people he might never meet.
Over the past decade, Collins has become a strong advocate for LGBTQ+ inclusion, serving as a global ambassador for the NBA and speaking out about representation, acceptance, and creating safer spaces for queer athletes.
“We are heartbroken to learn that our beloved husband, son, brother and uncle, Jason Collins, has passed away after a courageous battle with glioblastoma,” his family said in a statement. “Jason changed lives in unexpected ways and was an inspiration to all who knew him and those who admired him from afar.”
The National Basketball Players Association praised Collins in a statement, calling him a “global beacon of hope for the LGBTQ+ community” whose courage “broke barriers”.
Collins spent 13 years in the NBA, but his accomplishments ultimately went far beyond basketball. For countless queer fans, athletes, and young people looking for someone who looks like them, Collins was a household name at a time when publicity in professional sports was almost non-existent.
He is survived by his husband, Branson Green, his parents, and his twin brother, Jaron Collins.
Source: Gayety – gayety.com
