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 after battling brain cancer, according to several media outlets and the league.
In April 2013, he made history by publishing an article in Sports Illustrated. “I’m a 34-year-old NBA center. I’m black. And I’m gay,” he wrote, becoming the first active player to come out in one of the major American professional leagues.
His announcement sparked numerous reactions at the time, including from the then-President of the United States, Barack Obama, and opened up a new debate on homosexuality in men’s professional sports.
In February 2014, Jason Collins became the first openly gay player to compete in an NBA game, playing for the Brooklyn Nets.
Although not a star in the league, he became an important figure for LGBTQ+ visibility in sports. After his career, he was involved in various initiatives promoting inclusion.
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver hailed him as “a pioneer” whose impact “extends far beyond the basketball court.”
More than a decade after his coming out, openly gay male athletes remain very rare in major professional sports. For advocacy groups, this situation highlights the lingering discrimination based on sexual orientation in sports.
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