Out Gay NBAer Collins a Hit with SF's Commonwealth Club

Gay basketball player Jason Collins received a warm welcome Monday during his appearance at the Castro Theatre as part of the Commonwealth Club's month of LGBT programming entitled "The LGBT Journey."

Collins, 35, became the NBA's first openly gay player when he came out last year in an essay in Sports Illustrated . He spent much of the past year unsigned by a team, before the Brooklyn Nets picked him up in March.

At the August 11 program, presented by Inforum, the Commonwealth Club's division geared toward young professionals, Collins's family members were sitting in the audience watching and supporting their relative.

Jose Antonio Vargas, a Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter and gay man who is working on immigration reform since he came out as undocumented, interviewed Collins on stage.

"I wish I would have come out earlier, it would have saved me a lot sleepless nights," Collins said. "However, I don't think people should be forced to come out, because it can be harmful for them and others. People should come out when they are ready to take that step."

In the May 6, 2013, issue of Sports Illustrated , Collins wrote, "I didn't set out to be the first openly gay athlete playing in a major American team sport. But since I am, I'm happy to start the conversation."

Start the conversation Collins did.

"Last week the NBA invited me to talk to 10 to 15 rookie players at a time about diversity and changing the language in the locker room," Collins said. "It was great talking to the guys because I remember when I was sitting in their chairs. I remember when I was drafted and all the excitement that comes with being drafted in the NBA."

He added, "I believe that the language has to change out of respect for your teammates, or protecting your wallet, because if the NBA catches you they will fine you a minimum of $5,000 fine for using certain language."

According to Collins gay players are in the locker rooms on many teams, and most of the time other players don't even realize they're there.

"I'm trying to raise awareness, and I have faith they are capable of changing and using different ways to pick on each other," he said.

Collins believes that commissioners, coaches, and team owners can establish a safe environment in pro sports.

"Everyone can work together to create a safe healthy environment and set an example for the whole team," he said.

Collins's twin brother, Jarron, was shocked when Collins came out to him in the summer of 2012.

"I guess that means that I'm a really good actor," Collins said, "but a lot of stuff made sense; like I haven't dated a girl in so long. Anyway he was okay, but he told me that I have to be the one to tell his wife. So I asked his wife to come over to my house and sat her down and told her. Looking back you would think coming out would be this huge terrifying event in your head, and yes, there were tears, but they were tears of love and support."

The reaction to Collins coming out wasn't all positive. Pro football player Mike Wallace of the Miami Dolphins posted a comment on Twitter at the time: "All these beautiful women in the world and guys wanna mess with other guys." Wallace later deleted the comment and issued an apology.

Media coverage has also had some negative moments. On ESPN, NBA analyst Chris Broussard, citing his religious beliefs, said that living openly as a homosexual was a sin and that doing so was "walking in open rebellion to God and to Jesus Christ." But according to a New York Times article, the positive comments online or on TV overweighed the negative.

Audience members attending the event at the Castro Theatre were very supportive.

"I'm very proud of him ... what he did is very brave," said Michael Bourn, a San Francisco native. "It was terrifying to come out to my family, but Jason came out to the whole world, in a sense."

Another attendee, Sally Long, told the Bay Area Reporter how happy she was to be at the event.

"I'm very happy to see him in person talking about his coming out experience," Long said. "I'm an NBA fan and I follow it religiously every session, and I'm happy to see that he is starting the conversation and making people realize that LGBT people are everywhere and that we come in many different shapes and sizes. Having a gay person in a pro sport is huge, and it will open the door to other LGBT athletes to come out and be part of pro sports."

In fact, Michael Sam made history when he was picked by the St. Louis Rams during the NFL draft this spring. According to media reports, Sam had a good performance during the Rams' first preseason game last week and is working to earn a spot on the team.

After he came out this year, Sam met with Collins, who tweeted about the get together, "He is a great young man who has shown tremendous courage and leadership."