Homophobia in the United States limits acceptance of male athletes who are not straight. Many closeted athletes continue playing professionally without publicly identifying as gay, bisexual, or queer. Since Jason Collins came out in 2013, no other active NBA player has done so. Other leagues show similar patterns, with notable public coming-outs occurring when career risk was lower. Michael Sam is cited as an example of the risks involved. Even with a hostile atmosphere, public coming-out can create business opportunities, including endorsement interest. Nike reportedly promised support and additional opportunities to the first active athlete to come out, and Rick Welts described increased opportunities rather than reduced ones.
"“We live in a homophobic society, and that's unfortunate,” he said. The “unfortunate” part, Barkley explained, is that there are many closeted male athletes playing today in professional sports who refuse to publicly declare they are gay, bisexual, or queer. In fact, since Collins came out in 2013, no other active NBA player has done so."
"“Anybody who thinks we ain't got a bunch of gay players in all sports, they're just stupid,” he said. “But there is such an atmosphere toward the gay community, and that's what's really unfortunate.” Again, “unfortunate,” because as Out reported as far back as 2013, there is actually a fortune to be made if an active pro athlete comes out publicly."
"“They made it clear to me Nike would embrace it,” said the former Phoenix Suns exec, Rick Welts, after he himself came out as gay. “The player who does it, they're going to be amazed at the additional opportunities that are put on the table, not the ones that are taken off.”"
Read at Advocate.com
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]