Jason Collins, former NBA center and the first active player to come out in a major North American league, has died at the age of 47 following a battle with brain cancer, according to several media outlets and the league.
In April 2013, he made history by writing a piece for 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 main American professional leagues.
His announcement sparked numerous reactions, including from the then US president, Barack Obama, and sparked an unprecedented debate on homosexuality in professional men’s 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 for LGBTQ+ visibility in sports. After his career, he was involved in various initiatives promoting inclusion.
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver praised him as “a pioneer” whose impact “transcends basketball.”
Over a decade after his coming out, openly gay male athletes remain very rare in major professional sports. According to advocacy groups, this shows that discrimination based on sexual orientation persists in sports.
