Former NBA star and TV analyst Charles Barkley spoke frankly about homophobia in professional sports while honoring the late Jason Collins, the first openly gay player in a major U.S. professional sports league.
During a May 13 broadcast of ESPN’s “Inside the NBA,” Barkley reflected on Collins’ legacy following the former Brooklyn Nets center’s death earlier this week at age 47 after battling Stage 4 glioblastoma, an aggressive form of brain cancer. Collins came out in 2013 through an essay in Sports Illustrated, becoming a key figure in professional sports and LGBTQ visibility.
“There is such animosity toward the gay community. That’s what’s really unfortunate. If you think there’s not more gay players in the NFL, Major League Baseball and the NBA, you’re just stupid,” Barkley said.
While discussing Collins’ impact, Barkley said that many athletes in the NBA, NFL, and Major League Baseball are still afraid to talk about their sexuality because of ongoing prejudice. The Hall of Famer noted that society remains very homophobic and criticized attitudes toward the LGBTQ community, including within parts of the Black community.
source: Charles Barkley Sounds Off On Homophobia In Sports Following Jason Collins Death
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