Schools

Wizard Collins Praised for 'Enormously Significant Message'

The NBA center's announcement that he's gay gets nods from Loudoun to White House.

Washington Wizards center Jason Collins has won much praise for his decision to publicly acknowledge that he’s gay, including from President Barack Obama and Equality Loudoun, a local LGBT advocacy group.

“I was very impressed with Jason Collins' story in SI, really thoughtful and articulate,” said David Weintraub, a spokesman for Equality Loudoun. “I always think primarily about what these things mean for young people who feel they need to hide who they are, and who aren't sure they can have a future as that person. This is an enormously significant message for those kids.”
Weintraub said he particularly like a line from the story, written by Collins with Franz Lidz, in which Collins wrote, "I kept telling myself the sky was red, but I always knew it was blue."

“That's exactly how it is, and that simply expressed truth will resonate powerfully,” Weintraub said. “It's ultimately a waste of time to tell ourselves that the sky is red, and no one should have to waste that time.”

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Obama addressed the topic at the end of press conference Tuesday.

“I told him I couldn’t be more proud of him. For a lot of young people who are gay or lesbian, who are struggling with these issues, who see a role model like that … I think it’s a great thing,” the president said. “One of the extraordinary measures of progress that we’ve seen in this country has been the recognition that the LGBT community deserves full equality, not just partial equality.”

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Obama went further to say that the country has a whole had moved beyond “tolerance” has come to accept gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender individuals as “fully a part of the American family.”

“We judge people on the basis of their character and their performance, not their sexual orientation,” he said.

Jonathan Weintraub, David’s husband, notes that there have been other gay athletes, such as Puerto Rican boxer Orlando Cruz (http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/more-sports/zone-bout-article-1.1238840) and credits straight allies in sports.

He also points out that sports figures have taken advantage of their status to advance other causes as well. Jonathan Weintraub named Roberto Clemente, who died delivering food to earthquake victims in Nicaragua, and Muhammad Ali, who fought for his religious freedom.

“Clemente and Ali were driven by a higher purpose. Sports was their vocation, not their life purpose and motivation,” Jonathan Weintraub said. “Jason Collins' brave step makes it easier for everybody. He breathes fresh air into the set of sometimes stifling personal-political milieus that are our lives. He deserves our thanks and respect for that.”

David Weintraub agreed with the sentiment about sports serving other social causes.

“Sports has historically been an indicator of advances in social justice, and in that sense this story isn't unique,” he said. “I think that's an important thing to remind people of.”

What do you think about Collins’ announcement? Let us know in the comments below.


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