This is one of the reasons that I was so upset when I was coaching Cassie Boorn and she didn’t tell me she was gay: because the best career advice I could give anyone who is gay is to find a place for themselves in the workworld where they can be themselves. Because so much of career success is connecting with people, and secretive people are not likable. Gay people get higher pay and have more stable careers if they come out at work. The research about the benefits of coming out at work is solid. It’s a great conversation to have, because we all do better in our careers if we are honest about who we are. But since I am, I’m happy to start the conversation.” And I’m gay. I didn’t set out to be the first openly gay athlete playing in a major American team sport.
It’s rare enough for a professional athlete to be openly gay that President Obama called him up to offer support, and former President Clinton tweeted his support, adding that he’s known Jason Collins since he was friends with Chelsea Clinton at Stanford.Ĭollins is a 12-year NBA veteran who has played for the Boston Celtics and Washington Wizards and chose to come out in the new edition of Sports Illustrated . Jason Collins is a professional basketball player who just announced that he’s gay.
