Jason Collins Marches in Boston Pride

Photo courtesy of Sports Illustrated

Gay NBA player Jason Collins marched in Boston’s Pride Parade yesterday.  According to Sports Illustrated, Collins, who came out as gay in April, made a promise in that initial interview.  Speaking of his former roommate, Joe Kennedy, Collins reflected that when he’s heard Joe had marched int he Boston Pride Parade in 2012, he had been jealous.  “was proud of him for participating but angry that as a closeted gay man I couldn’t even cheer my straight friend on as a spectator” for fear of being outed.  But things changed after the Boston Marathon bombing.  Collins said:

Things can change in an instant, so why not live truthfully? When I told Joe a few weeks ago that I was gay, he was grateful that I trusted him. He asked me to join him in 2013. We’ll be marching on June 8.

And march he did.

So many have questioned why this is “news”.  It’s news because it hasn’t been done before.  Many people seem to think that living openly is no big deal.  Even for gay folks that are not famous, being out carries huge risks of discrimination, intolerance and often times violence.  Each person of notoriety that comes out, lives proud and sets an example brings us closer to acceptance and equal treatment in this country and around the world.