Collins Steps to the Forefront of Gay Athlete Movement

The movement is like a freight train. It starts out slow, takes it awhile to get going, but by the time it starts rolling it comes at full force. It appears that this is how the gay athlete movement is going to happen in America. It has been a long time coming, but Jason Collins is just the beginning it would seem. With his admission that he is gay he has stepped to the forefront of a movement that is sure to gain speed in the coming years.

This post is not to express my personal viewpoints on gay marriage. It's not my intent to choose sides on this post and if I do so I apologize in advance. Because here is the reality: whether you support the movement or not, it is coming and Jason Collins will forever be remembered as one of the trailblazers. While I may not agree with everything on the matter I will say this: I respect the move Collins made.

It takes extreme courage to do what he did, especially in this period of his career. Before Collins the only athletes in America that had come out as gay were retired. Not only is Collins still playing, but he is a free agent. That means that Collins not only came out, but he was willing to take that chance with strong possibility that a team may not sign him because of it.

The reaction among players in the league has been mixed, but the majority of high-profile players have been in support. Kobe Bryant and Tony Parker have tweeted their support and President Obama phoned Collins to say he was proud of him. Others in the sports world have not been so supportive. Mike Wallace, wide receiver for the Miami Dolphins, sent out a series of tweets that questioned the idea of homosexuality.

Most notably, ESPN's NBA reporter Chris Broussard, made headlines for his personal views expressed on Outside the Lines. Broussard expressed his Christian views on homosexuality and has been criticized heavily by some, but heavily supported by others. What is most irritating is that ESPN took the news of Collins' admission and turned it into a sideshow on their show by goading Broussard into a debate.

That's not what this should be about. The world is changing. That doesn't mean anybody's views have to change. I, as a religious man myself, believe that Christians should stand to their morals and values. However, I do believe respect should be shown from both sides. Social media has served as the platform for the raging debate, but no solutions or peace is made through anger. I respect what Collins did and I respect what Broussard said because he expressed his opinion in a polite manner.

People who can't see past their own narrow viewpoint are too close-minded for the times. I'm not saying you have to agree with everything, but you have to see that the world is changing. A changing world will be a better place if respect is shown.

Collins is a true American trailblazer. That cannot be denied and he will face unabashed support and criticism as the rest of his career plays out. There will be players who openly support Collins and there will be those that openly say they don't want to be in the same locker room as him. For American sports it is a huge change.

It's a change that is gaining force and it's a movement that is upon us whether you support it or not. And whether you support it or not, the right way to react to it is with respect. Otherwise there is no peace, common ground or solution to the issue.