Jason Collins became the first active player in any major American team sport to announce that he is gay. Check out some of the various Twitter reactions.
FILE - In a Friday, Sept. 28, 2012 file photo, Boston Celtics' Jason Collins poses during Celtics NBA basketball media day at the team's training facility in Waltham, Mass. NBA veteran center Collins has become the first male professional athlete in the major four American sports leagues to come out as gay. Collins wrote a first-person account posted Monday, April 29, 2013 on Sports Illustrated's website. He finished this past season with the Washington Wizards and is now a free agent. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer, File) The overwhelming majority of the reaction on social media has been positive, though some people online have disagreed with the moment's importance.
Collins received immediate support from several notable NBA players and people affiliated with the league, including Kobe Bryant and Baron Davis.
I am so proud of my bro @jasoncollins34 for being real. #FTheHaters bit.ly/12J9el5
— Baron Davis (@Baron_Davis) April 29, 2013
#Wizards Statement "We are extremely proud of Jason & support his decision to live his life proudly and openly." More nba.com/wizards/wizard…
— Washington Wizards (@WashWizards) April 29, 2013
Proud of @jasoncollins34. Don't suffocate who u r because of the ignorance of others #courage #support #mambaarmystandup #BYOU
— Kobe Bryant (@kobebryant) April 29, 2013
The time has come. Maximum respect. RT @baron_davis: I am so proud of my bro @jasoncollins34 for being real. ... tmi.me/TGSBh
— Steve Nash (@SteveNash) April 29, 2013
Orange And Blue Skies Salutes Jason Collins. Thank You For Your Courage,A Slam Dunk Against HOMOPHOBIA.And Dat's Da "FREEDOM"Truth,Ruth.
— Spike Lee (@SpikeLee) April 29, 2013
He also received support from other sources, including writers and former players in other sports.
So proud of @jasoncollins34 for having the courage to stand up and out for who he is. I support, respect and salute you!!
— Michael Strahan (@michaelstrahan) April 29, 2013
Happy for @jasoncollins34 - a thoughtful guy + beloved teammate, and now, a role model for so many struggling to come out. Good luck to him.
— Bill Simmons (@BillSimmons) April 29, 2013
He was further supported by the Clinton family. Collins attended college at Stanford University where he befriended Chelsea Clinton.
I'm proud to call Jason Collins a friend. wjcf.co/154piCi
— Bill Clinton (@billclinton) April 29, 2013
Very proud of my friend Jason Collins for having the strength & courage to be the first openly gay player in the NBA. bit.ly/ZLei9F
— Chelsea Clinton (@ChelseaClinton) April 29, 2013
Despite mostly positive support, the comments section of the Sports Illustrated article was contained disparaging comments toward Collins, and other people downplayed the importance of the moment.
So Jason Collins is a hero because he's gay? Our standard for heroism has dropped quite a bit since Normandy.
— Ben Shapiro (@benshapiro) April 29, 2013
If the only way you can make Sports Illustrated is by announcing your sexual proclivities, you're a bad player.
— Ben Shapiro (@benshapiro) April 29, 2013
All these beautiful women in the world and guys wanna mess with other guys SMH...
— Mike Wallace (@Wallace17_daKid) April 29, 2013
Wallace deleted this tweet soon after it was posted, and added this comment:
Never said anything was right or wrong I just said I don't understand!! Deeply sorry for anyone that I offended
— Mike Wallace (@Wallace17_daKid) April 29, 2013
As for Collins, he continued to go on with his life. At the time of this article, his last tweet did not even address his decision to come out.
Played golf for the 1st time since Oct on Sun. I broke 100 and had a birdie. Great way to relax before the start of a big week.
— Jason Collins (@jasoncollins34) April 29, 2013
Collins' decision to announce that he is gay was perhaps best summed up by Dave Holmes, who works on-air at FX.
Jason Collins' coming out is an illustration of how far we've come, and its comments section is a reminder of how far we have left to go.
— Dave Holmes (@DaveHolmes) April 29, 2013