Monday, April 29, 2013

...But Not the Last

The rising tide of freedom and equality for gay Americans is gaining astonishing speed. It is a welcome and hopeful sign in this society that, in so many other areas, has stagnated or regressed.

Jason Collins has come out of the closet as the first openly gay athlete on a major American sports team. He is not the biggest star in the NBA, where he plays. He has shown himself to be brave enough to take on the role of the "First", and for that everyone, gay or straight, owes him our thanks and admiration.

Whenever truth is revealed, whenever prejudice is challenged, whenever justice is sought and gained, we are all better off. So much better off, that there can be no going back, no return to ignorance and fear, and no wallowing in inertial rigidity.

The obvious fact of the matter is that Jason Collins is not the only gay American athlete. But with his brave example, others will certainly step forward to reveal not only their own personal truth, but the truth of the world we live in. 

No comments:

Post a Comment