The NBA's First Gay Player

Bernie
February 7 2007, 6:16PM

You've forgotten former pro football player Ron Simmons, who wrote his autobiography, "Out of Bounds."

Tyler
February 7 2007, 6:25PM

Well said. I am behind you on this one.

Dre
February 7 2007, 8:12PM

when I heard about this last week, I thought SP was the one who was going to breakout on this one...that would have been big...there are a couple of other retired pro basketball players that could make this move in the future...I will definitely pick up this book next week...one of my best friends knew John from Vandebilt...he said he would have never guessed...

chicagoangel
February 7 2007, 9:16PM

This makes no impact on me at all. plus whats the point he already had his career. I'd like to see someone of major importance who may be gay or bi come out while they are under contract now.

Trent
February 7 2007, 9:40PM

Very well said. I am 100 percent in agreement with you. Amaechi is entitled to live and do with his life as he likes, but I hope he gives a little something back to the black lgbt community. The usual behavior is not to give anything back to the community.

More,it seems like the few black male gay athletes who have come out appear to go after every Chelsea boy or twink type there is.

I am hoping Amaechi is different in so many ways than the standard behavior of these other brothers. Then, his life is own to live anyway he chooses.

Nathan James
February 7 2007, 9:51PM

Amaechi is to be commended for his courage in coming out. Even though his NBA career is behind him, he's still a public figure. Now, in a story on him by Brian Mahoney, LeBron james is quoted as saying, "With teammates, you have to be trustworthy, and if you are gay, and you are not admitting that you are, you are not trustworthy." I woder if LeBron really understands the implications of his words. to come out of the closet in pro sports is professional suicide. Does LeBron realistically believe any current NBA (or NFL, MLB, NHL, etc...) player can do that?

Also, as sexuality is a deeply personal issue, I feel LeBron's comments equate unwillingness to come out with dishonesty. The sexual orientation of a player has no impact on his or the team's performance. The only real impact a gay player might have, is on the very homophobic world of pro sports, where his teammates' own bigotry would cause the gay player undue harm.

Mark Norris
February 7 2007, 11:02PM

I believe that Swoops, Amaechi, Jones, Simmons and Tualo and others like them who have the courage to come out publicly is good enough for me. To suggest or imply that they NEED TO BE visible to the black community or join an organization like NBJC is putting a bit too much on these folks, whom we don't even know if they are at the political level or not. I think it takes a special kind of person to be involved with organizations such as this and if someone is forced because of public scrutiny could be a set up for disaster. They are out there for the world to see now let's just let them begin to feel the effects themselves in their own skin. If one or all of them decide ON THEIR OWN to be involved with the NBJC ...Halejulia!!!

Erick
February 7 2007, 11:34PM

I don't agree with Mark Norris' comment that Swoops, Amaechi and Simmons don't need to be visible in the black community. I commend them for publicly coming out. We know the courage it takes to be honest about this part of ourselves. Why not be more visible and supportive to those of us who are black AND gay? The racist comments by white gay men recently hurled at Jasmyne Cannick for protesting white drag performer, Charles Knipp is another reminder that racism is EVERYWHERE. I'm not specifically asking for political endorsement but if you're going to be a spokesperson or endorse a gay mainstream, predominantly white business or organization...

Homophobia is everywhere too and one the ways to combat it in the black community is to stand alongside those in front to encourage all of us to shout, "I'm gay AND black and proud of both attributes!"

Wise&Young
February 8 2007, 12:01AM

Isn't it kind of santamonious to say for the good of the community he should do this or she should do that...When in reality what type of support did they GET from the community while they were playing. I mean to be quiet frank, I never heard of the guy until today. I've heard of Swoopes but not that many African-American communities rally behind the banner of their local female sports team even if they are winning.

Coming out is a personal issue now if they want to make some dollars by doing so, hock a book or endorse a few gay themed products or services sure why not?

Until the NBJC and organizations like GLAAD make themselves really applicable to the larger African-American community how can you expect individuals to do so?

Just my thoughts

algie
February 8 2007, 12:46AM

i applaud them for coming out and lifting that big ol brick off the shoulders because life is too short.as a whole we need to stand up and let the world see us for what we really are and not these dl this and dl that spreading hiv+. i can't take it no more.too many people have died for us to just sit around and be like oh well

Carlos
February 8 2007, 1:26AM

I remember watching an old Damon Wayans stand-up routine (jokingly) stating that it was absurd to think there are any gay ballers in the NBA because they are too tall... Amaechi ruins this joke. Question--Isn't Dennis Rodman gay or bisexual?

Liquid Fonts
February 8 2007, 2:03AM

The state of black gay life for many is an emotional Katrina from childhood thru adulthood...as they say in church...go where the need is greatest and if that happens to be within the black gay community at this point then certainly that would be a great place for freshly out lgbt celebs to be present and even find healing for themselves as well.

allegro
February 8 2007, 3:05AM

While I applaud Amaechi's courage for comig out of the closet and I see this as a major victory for him. The first thing out of my ind when I heard this news was Amaechi who? Meaning that what else is he known for in the NBA that anyone would care? His career was brief....a year with this team....a year or two with that team....no rings....no records. If his only legacy in the NBA is that he was gay I don't think its going to have as a big of an impact as would some more noteworthy player. SWOOPS was a star....she's done things to make people take notice aside from her announcing she's a lesbian. Amaechi....leaves me saying....WHO?

nahtan serious
February 8 2007, 3:34AM

I am very pleased that he has come out. He is impressive, intelligent and articulate and is clearly very self aware and confident. So what if he is not the biggest NBA star and so what if his career is over?

Kyle
February 8 2007, 9:08AM

It will be more laudable and more impressive when pro athletes come out during their athletic careers rather than after the careers are over. Why do we hold them to a lower standard than other people?

Ty
February 8 2007, 9:15AM

I guess I don't know what all the "hoopla" is about, but, since the only basketball player I even know is Michael Jordan, that could be why. I'm not too impressed when people "come out" after they retire, and didn't while in the limelight when it could have helped someone, or put to end some of the negative sterotypes about gays and sports. Just what good does it do for some kid who might be wanting to play basketball, but, who may think he or she is gay, and deals with the taunts? More power to him, but, I'll skip on his book and publicity jaunt.

Coming out is a very perosonal issue, but, to do it when the big paycheck stops, is hardly newsworthy, at least to me its only slightly interesting.

C. Baptiste-Williams
February 8 2007, 9:54AM

I have never heard of Amaechi before earlier this week and I think the only impact that this will hopefully have is to give other relevant athletes and entertainers encouragement to do the same.

curious887
February 8 2007, 9:59AM

Ty, you have no idea the abuse a gay athlete would face if he came out on a team sport like basketball or football. The homophobia in those sports is outrageous and it could quite frankly end a career. Of that I have no doubt. I don't think anyone should have to go through something like that until he is ready. Like you, I think coming out is a very personal decision, but I do not fault this man for waiting until he left the game to come out. I think it's enough that we and the rest of the world know there are gay basketball players. I doubt he is the only one. Others are probably still playing but know that to come out would be a career-ender.

deejay
February 8 2007, 10:36AM

I've never heard of this guy but it's refreshing to see this type of revelation, especially when it's not associated with a off-the-wall sex scandal or a disclosure about having contracted HIV or AIDS.

Gregg
February 8 2007, 10:56AM

I totally agree with Keith. These atheletes are selling books, making endorsements and expecting the community to support them as atheletes. Therefore, we should expect them to give back to OUR community. The gay youth comes to mind when thinking about what these atheletes are able to contribute. They could be great role models for them. We talk about reaching out to our youth as a whole. Gay youth are a part of the whole. Black gay atheletes could demonstrate how diverse the Black gay community is and can be. Yes Keith I agree, they NEED TO BE visible in OUR commnity.

Blue
February 8 2007, 11:16AM

I have to agree with deejay ... I am glad there's no drama around this, just a brother opening up. I hope more will do that. But we can't realistically expect any of them to do it while they are still active - if regular folks like us rarely do it for fear of reprisal and discrimination, imagine what it's like for them. Maybe one day they will be able to, but on the real now just is not the time. Regardless, I wish him well.

JWhite
February 8 2007, 11:28AM

Another significant point is the timing of Amaechi coming out of the closet that being 3 years after he left the game. Of the four major prof sports (NBA, NFL, Hockey, MLB)the fact that an increasing number of gay professional athletes are feeling more comfortable expressing their true selves so close to after they stop playing the sport professionally, leads me to believe and I hope we are not far from having our first gay "Male" athelete come out while they are playing!! Much like Jackie Robinson and those that broke the color barrier in modern professional sports, it will take a very couragoues individual and just as important an owner and league commissioner truly committed to supported that individual in their god given right to live their life as they are and be able to continue to play their sport at the highest levels of their profession.

brohemian
February 8 2007, 12:52PM

i'm happy to read about john amaechi. one question though - does his being british impact the desired obligation to be "out and active" in "our community" that some fellow readers are calling for?

11
February 8 2007, 1:02PM

It's important that we remember that these folks may not be very visible in black communities because they often aren't welcomed there or even safe there. They have to look out for them first, not the community.

Hermit
February 8 2007, 1:35PM

It's important to know that Amaechi, who is british, has a solid track record of doing community work/outreach to the point where he has donated some $4 million of his own money to build sport facilities for kids in the UK. Is it important that he becomes directly involved in the GLBT community or that he continues to be an example for all people- gay or straight? I don't know that the brother owes any group anything. I would think that his coming out is courage enough.

kivafire
February 8 2007, 4:28PM

It is great that Amaechi has chose to come OUT at this point in his life! What a relief it must be for him and all who are close to him. We need to keep in mind that there is an extremely personal and emotional price paid for being in the closet... a very expensive price far greater than any profession can accommodate - even Professional Basketball. Everything isn't about paychecks and greenbacks! I agree with the comment made that he does not owe any group anything. He owes it to himself to be an honest and decent person as we all do. We have all experienced either personally or with those in our lives that "being in the closet" has resulted in more emotional deaths than can ever be mourned. Amaechi has had an Epiphany...cause for much hoopla!

geobaby
February 8 2007, 4:30PM

I love this commentary Keith and as usual you make some great points! We,as African-Americans have to be responsible for our own imagery. Only "we" can accurately tell our story honestly and thoroughly. But I also have to remember all people who are thrusted into celebrity arena are not role model material; nor do some want to be. It will be ideal if it were so, but as you stated before no one is obligated. Accountability can't be forced in this case. It must be freely given. And finally I add a thought. Will we support them or take the will we criticize? Too often, even this website where the meeting of the minds are encouraged, we sometimes find ourselves falling into this deadly human trap. Again let's start with the "man in the mirror" How many of us on this website alone support the NBJC? And people know I'm a big Keith Boykin fan, but how many Keith Boykins' are there amongst us hiding for fear of public humiliation/retaliation? When do we start celebrating those worthy ones in our own communities?

Mitch
February 8 2007, 7:19PM

Boyfriend is fine...

DDc
February 8 2007, 9:23PM

Not to be a cynic, but he's inactive and was a nobody to begin with. When a Shaq or A.I. comes out then this will have impact. I think it'll open a new can of worms, too, though as I'm sure that gay black players will tend to go for latino, bright, and real-deal white partners as Trent said above. I can just see the Randy Boyd-ish backlash now happening. And its funny that you guys are defending pro-athletes for staying closeted but gleefully taunting the Madea actor for NOT coming out. Hypocrites.

Karim
February 9 2007, 12:30PM

As much as it would make me happy, we still have a long way to go to bridge the gap between the larger LGBT community and black America. The best way to do that is to have black lesbians and gay men willing to step up and build the bridge.

CreamyBrn
February 9 2007, 12:53PM

Maybe he's the first NBA player to come out, but I'm sure he's not the FIRST gay NBA player.

manchild1
February 9 2007, 4:55PM

I feel him,but I was shocked at some of the
comments by Mcgrady and Hill.....

nat
February 10 2007, 6:50PM

when they asked Charles Barkley his opinion on this guy, he almost named names of gay ball players hes played with during his career. i don't really think this will have much of an impact because 1, his playing days are over. 2 he wasn't a big enough star. 3. hes not American and spent very little of his time in America. 3. from what i hear, he liked the white Boy, so you know the words of a snow queen will fall deaf on my ears.

its going to take the caliber of a 20 Pt's and 10 rebs a night guy to have an effect on the attitudes of the masses. as long as the sport is fan driven and popularity motivated, nobody is going to risk there money making endorsement potential to satisfy or justify someone Else's curiosity. at the end of the day, his private is that, his private life and to ask the world into his bed room is none of our business.

D
February 10 2007, 11:28PM

Amaechi was invited to open the HRC Gala earlier this evening. It was good seeing an openly gay brother repping for us on that stage. I don't care who he chooses to go to bed with, white or black... i am just happy for him because he's now out and proud. Go Amaechi!

Tony
February 11 2007, 10:17AM

Amaechi does not need to do anything he doesn't want to, ie joining any black organisation, gay or otherwise. he alredy has his own organisation which he funds himself and is totally committed to it. some people may not like the fact that 98% of the young people who benefit from his charity are white but so what, that's what he chose. he has been drawn naturally to a community and people he most feels comfortable with, hence, even while he was still playing in the NBA he sent a lot of time in europe exploring the white gay scene because that's what he prefers. please don't forget that he's half white and so is entitled to opt for that if he prefers. that said, stay positive and true to yourselves, life's too short to be consumed with someone else's. love U Keith.

Ron Lee
February 11 2007, 10:28PM

The fact that Amaechi a black brit that plays Black Male Americas'National pass-time is gay is more a news story to Black Americas' straight community since most black men worship basketball. However; tony,it is a cop-out for you to state mr.amaechis'being half white and his preference is to help whites. It's the job of the management of any celebrity to make sure they know their demographic and do nothing publically to damage that. If he cared so much about helping poor Brits he should have stayed there and never have come to America. Self-hating BLACK/HOMOSEXUALS need help we'll all pray for them and their head hanging/self-hating friends. PEACE To All The Brothers. No Luv For Hipprocrits,The worst racist are the ones who hates their own. Ron Lee.

Tony
February 13 2007, 11:05AM

hi Ron Lee. you see i am giving my point as a BLACK man living in England and black people here have a different mindset. the fact of the matter is that, this guy grew up in a predominently white community and hung around white people and knows very little about the community you want him to defect to. as far as he is concerned, he is giving a LOT back to HIS community and the fact that he has come out makes him feel totally content and free, and now does not need other people telling him what to do. he has now probably overcome his biggest obstacle, coming out. he had to come to the USA to follow his dream as a pro-basketball player because it´s not that big in the UK. he was actually born in the US but grew up in the UK and beccause he feels more at home here, he has chosen to return. he is NOT a hypocrite. why is it OK for biracial people to choose their black heritage and not their white.

BLAthlete
February 14 2007, 8:59AM

According to outsports.com, Amaechi has just become an official spokesperson for the HRC (Human Rights Coalition). So he IS choosing to volunteer and give back to the gay community, just not the organization that Boykin and his ilk want it to be.

Ron Lee
February 14 2007, 4:47PM

Hi Tony,thanks for responding to my statement. Dispite our ethnic differences there should be no excuse for any Black Man anywhere in the World to minimize his Black heritage, there are lots of blacks throughout the world who are and has been raised among other ethnic majorities. My piont is it seems that you were going out your way to excuse ones behavior for a preference of one race over another,you didn't say in no certain terms that he was as proud of his black heritage as his white you took it a step further and intimated that he was more confortable around whites and more giving toward their causes. We are aware of whats going on in Britton right now Black Men are very much under the gun there all dark skin men there are. Black Brittons have a proud heritage,but that was not the message given in your statement. I realize also that you nor amaechi speaks for brittons' Black,white or biracial community.PEACE.

Tony
February 15 2007, 11:08AM

Ron Lee, honestly. LOL, though your comment is no laughing matter. black-biracial people fall into 2 main categories. those who despise their white heritage and behave in a militant way about their blackness(and you know what i mean by that), possibly brought on by their historic rejection by white people or the injustices they see everyday towards themselves (one drop rule) and other races. and then there are those who despise their black heritage possibly because of an absent black father (which is usually the case) or black influence and some because of the brainwashing that we are less superior, less intelligent, so less power. NOT TRUE OF COURSE. but then there are some in the middle somewhere and they embrace both heritages. whatever the reason, we can't change some people. how many black people do you know who despise themselves? too many. and i am certainly NOT saying Amaechi is one of them. as for me, my personal life outside work is TOTALLY BLAKK. and love!

Keith
February 15 2007, 1:47PM

I couldn't agree with u more! Where they are not obligated to do anything, there is a certain responsibility that we all have to "add value" to the lives of others. This is certainly one of the ways this could happen. It would also do a lot to show that gay/lesbian/transgender people are not freakish, be forced into self hatred behavior and are part and parcel of the greater human let alone black community.

As Alwasy Mr. Boykin, well said.