Jason Collins, former NBA center and the first active player to come out in a major North American league, has passed away at the age of 47 from brain cancer, according to several media outlets and the league.
In April 2013, he made history by publishing an article in Sports Illustrated. “I am a 34-year-old NBA center. I am Black. And I am gay,” he wrote, becoming the first active player to come out in one of the major American professional leagues.
His announcement sparked numerous reactions, including from the then president Barack Obama, and opened up a unprecedented debate on homosexuality in professional male sports.
In February 2014, Jason Collins became the first openly gay player to compete in an NBA game, representing the Brooklyn Nets.
Although not a star in the league, he emerged as a significant figure in promoting visibility for LGBTQ+ individuals in sports. After his career, he was involved in various actions advocating for inclusion.
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver praised him as “a pioneer” whose impact “goes well beyond basketball.”
More than a decade after his coming out, openly gay male athletes remain rare in major professional sports. For advocacy groups, this situation highlights the continued discrimination based on sexual orientation in sports.
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