"So proud of you, Jason Collins! This is a huge step forward for our country. We've got your back! -mo" the First Lady of the United State said on her official Twitter account, while the President made a supportive phone call to the 34-year-old 7-foot star hours after he revealed his sexuality in a first-person article in Sports Illustrated.

"Obama reached out by phone, expressing his support and telling Collins he was impressed by his courage," the White House said.

The President's spokesman Jay Carney added that Obama commended Collins for his courage and his decision was "another example of the progress that has been made and the evolution that has been taking place in this country" as Americans develop a greater acceptance of gay rights and same-sex marriage.


Former American President Bill Clinton also released a statement saying this was an "important moment" and asked fans, NBA colleagues and the media to support and respect Collins - who he has known since he went to Stanford University with his daughter Chelsea.

"It is the straightforward statement of a good man who wants no more than what so many of us seek: to be able to be who we are; to do our work; to build families and to contribute to our communities," Clinton said.

"For so many members of the LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transsexual) community, these simple goals remain elusive."

Collins has played for six teams in 12 seasons, last playing with the Washington Wizards during 2012-2013, and although he claims he did not set out to be the first openly gay athlete in a major American team sport he is "happy to start the conversation".


"I'm a 34-year-old NBA centre," his article started.

"I'm black.

"And I'm gay."

Chad Griffin, President of gay rights group Human Rights Campaign, said Collins has "forever changed the face of sports".

"No longer will prejudice and fear force gay athletes to remain silent about a fundamental part of their lives," Griffin explained.

Collins responded to the message thanking people on Twitter for their "truly inspirational" support.

"Thank you to everyone who has reached out to me thru email, texts, calls, tweets, letters, and every other form of communication. #support

"All the support I have received today is truly inspirational. I knew that I was choosing the road less travelled but I'm not walking it alone," he said on his official account.


Collins may be the first active American male athlete to have come out but he by no means the first athlete to have been open about his sexuality, nor is he the first NBA player to do so as Briton John Amaechi was the first NBA star to publicly announce he was gay, but he had retired three years previously.

Last October Puerto Rican featherweight Orlando Cruz, who competed at Sydney 2000, became the first active boxer to reveal he is gay; followed by Britain's Nicola Adams - a fellow boxer and winner of the first ever women's Olympic gold medal in the sport - who is openly bisexual; and Australian Olympic diving champion Matthew Mitcham is another of the few openly gay Olympic athletes in the world.

Contact the writer of this story at [email protected]


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