Coming out of the closet

[rachmaninoff_forever]

No, I'm not coming out of the closet.

But do you know who did?!

Jason Collins!!!

Whoho!!!

Good for you bro!

In case any of you didn't know who he is, he's an NBA player.

And he's like the first person in a major American sport to come out of the closet.

He's going to survive the end of the world.

Thoughts?

[yale_music]

It seems to me that many young gay/lesbian athletes feel isolated, in part because they don't feel at ease with the stereotypical aspects of gay culture. This NBA player's coming out demonstrates further that homosexuals are just as diverse a group as heterosexuals: some are "masculine", others are "feminine", some like ballet, others like football, and so on.

We know for a fact that homophobia still exists in professional sports, and especially in basketball. Baseball, football, and hockey seem to be well on their way to a widespread culture of acceptance. So I'm sure this star will have some impact in changing the tune of the NBA (and probably college basketball, too).

Then again, perhaps effemiphobia is the bigger issue here, especially with respect to gay men. Maybe people are uncomfortable with effeminate guys because of the way they act, not because of the simple fact that they're gay. I'm not condoning this, but I suspect there is some truth to it.

[outin]

No, I'm not coming out of the closet.

You didn't?
"Everything by Bach" 

[lloyd_cdb]

Then again, perhaps effemiphobia is the bigger issue here, especially with respect to gay men. Maybe people are uncomfortable with effeminate guys because of the way they act, not because of the simple fact that they're gay. I'm not condoning this, but I suspect there is some truth to it.

This is probably true. From my own perspective, it makes me uncomfortable and I don't really know why. I have friends that are gay and truly don't care one way or the other. There is just something about effeminacy that gets to me. Although it often goes hand in hand with flamboyant which, even though there is a distinction, makes it hard to separate.

[stiefel]

I'm a gay high school basketball player, but not completely out of the closet.  MVP of the team actually (not that this means much for we were 5-16 this season).  Jason Collins makes me slightly happy, but mostly I'm phlegmatic, unemotional.  I'll truly be happy the day when coming out isn't news, but just another normal, uneventful part of life for us gays.

I agree with yalemusic about the effeminacy thing.  In my high school there is one boy who is extremely openly gay and quite "feminine" and "flamboyant."  I am treated much better than he is.

[j_menz]

In case any of you didn't know who he is, he's an NBA player.

How do you play NBA and how does that help? 

[emill]

In some cultures and societies ... it must be terrible being gay as it may even mean incarceration and worse,  death.  Like in the case of Anwar Sadat, the former deputy prime minister of Malaysia and presently the opposition leader where a case of sodomy and same sex relation landed him several years in jail.

Being gay here in our country (the Philippines) seems to be less & less of a big deal with each generation. It is no longer as big a news like before; but I must admit that with the older generations, perhaps starting with 40 and upwards, it still awakens dormant biases against them. Frankly for reasons not very clear to me (I am 60+), I would be uncomfortable and would prefer that whoever will be the roommate of my son in music school in the US should be "straight". I would be confident predicting that in the next 1-2 generations, being gay will be totally normal. As they say they have every right to be!

[thalbergmad]

I was thinking of coming out, but I don't think I could stand men telling me to piss off as well as women.

Thal

[birba]

How do you play NBA and how does that help? 

That IS a joke, right?   

SOOOO much has changed since high school...
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_lesbian,_gay,_bisexual,_and_transgender_sportspeople

[j_menz]

That IS a joke, right?   

Apparently. 

Some sort of video game, perhaps?

[birba]

Yes. 

[yale_music]

I'll truly be happy the day when coming out isn't news, but just another normal, uneventful part of life for us gays.

I completely agree.

[h_chopin148]

Apparently. 

Some sort of video game, perhaps?

i'm gonna assume you're not american. It stands for National Basketball Association.  it's the professional US basketball league.

[yale_music]

www.nba.com

[j_menz]

i'm gonna assume you're not american. It stands for National Basketball Association.  it's the professional US basketball league.

Cool. Thanks. 

[h_chopin148]

Cool. Thanks. 

no problemo

[birba]

Well, you had me fooled there, jmenz!  "The americans and the australians have everything in common except...basketball".

[j_menz]

Well, you had me fooled there, jmenz!  "The americans and the australians have everything in common except...basketball".

Not quite. We play basketball too, but our only interest in the americans in that regard is that we can't seem to beat them in the Olympics.

[birba]

YEA!!

[rachmaninoff_forever]

Not quite. We play basketball too, but our only interest in the americans in that regard is that we can't seem to beat them in the Olympics.

Not in a million years bro.