My dream was to play in the NBA and live my authentic life as a proud gay man at the same time. I was able to accomplish both of those goals because of the people who have supported me throughout my life.
Interpretation
This quote expresses the importance of pursuing one's dreams while embracing one's identity.
Jason Collins reflects on his journey to achieve his dream of playing in the NBA while living openly as a gay man. He acknowledges the vital role of support from others in accomplishing these goals, highlighting the intersection of personal fulfillment and societal acceptance.
In practice
During a motivational speech at a pride event.
I would love to see an athlete live their life in an authentic way, not feel that they have to hide, not feel that they have to be afraid, or live with shame - all the other things that go with being a closeted athlete. No human being should have to walk that path. But there is that fear of stepping forward.
The worst insult you can give a professional athlete is to call them soft. And the stereotype out there is that gay is soft.
The first relative I came out to was my aunt Teri, a superior court judge in San Francisco. Her reaction surprised me. 'I've known you were gay for years,' she said. From that moment on I was comfortable in my own skin.
For many young people growing up in minority communities, there is a sense that their lives are disposable. As athletes, we have a platform to let those kids know that their lives are important. That their lives matter to us.
Some people insist they've never met a gay person. But Three Degrees of Jason Collins dictates that no NBA player can claim that anymore. Pro basketball is a family. And pretty much every family I know has a brother, sister or cousin who's gay. In the brotherhood of the NBA, I just happen to be the one who's out.
I didn't set out to be the first openly gay athlete playing in a major American team sport.
It's a thrill to fulfill your own childhood dreams, but as you get older, you may find that enabling the dreams of others is even more fun.
What's it like finding out Denzel Washington wants you to direct his next movie? It's like getting a phone call from Muhammad Ali or Michael Jordan saying they want you to coach them.
Making it through the ceiling to the other side was simply a matter of running on a path created by every other woman's footprints.
The quiet that envelops space makes the beauty even more powerful, and I only hope that the quiet can one day spread to my country.
We proved that we are still a people capable of doing big things and tackling our biggest challenges.
There's a rainbow in the sky, all the time, don't be blind
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