1. DROPPINGTHEMASKJason Collins ’97 became the first male
professional athlete still playing in a major
team sport to come out as gay, paving the
way for gay athletes in professional, amateur
and scholastic sports around the world.

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Howdifferentdoyouthinkthingswouldhavebeen
for you had you come out when you attended high
school?
My senior year in high school was 1997. The country has
changed a lot since then. In fact, the country has changed a
lot in the last five years. A lot of it – especially with “Don’t
Ask, Don’t Tell” being introduced in the ’90s, and then being
repealed by President Obama, and some the states in this
country recognizing gay marriage and marriage equality –
wasn’t the case in 1997. Slowly, more and more people are
coming to that point of acceptance and tolerance and un-
derstanding. It was time for me in my private life, and it was
time for this country. Because of the people who came before
me, whether it be Dave Kopay in football, John Amaechi in
basketball, Martina Navratilova in tennis, Robbie Rogers in
soccer, Brittney Griner, and so on. Each person who steps
forward continues that conversation and fosters that culture of
acceptance and tolerance. That’s important for equality.
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What was it like for you to muster up the courage
to come out on such huge stage?
For me, I haven’t really looked at it as courage. I looked at it
as something that needed to be done. I’ve always been a “lead
by example” kind of guy. If something needs to be said, I’ll
say it. Something needs to be done, I’ll be that guy that shows
you that example, I’ll walk the walk. I had reached that point
in my private life. My family already knew, my friends already
knew. Once you get a taste of what life is like when you take
off that mask, it gets tougher and tougher to put that mask
back on. I needed to be genuine.
Since coming out, you’ve been referred to as the
“Jackie Robinson” of gay players in professional
sports. Do you see yourself as that figure? What’s
it like for you to get those comparisons?
I don’t even want to compare what I did to Jackie Robinson –
what Jackie Robinson did, it was monumental. All I wanted
to do was live an honest, genuine life. Others are going to say
what they want to say, but to me it all comes down to living
an honest, genuine life.
THROWBACK
Jason Collins ’97, right, drives past a St.
Francis defender as a member of the
1995-96Wolverine basketball team.
With the leadership it took to break this barrier in
sports, what do you have to say about leadership
in general?
I think everybody has a point where they realize that it’s make
or break time. Trust me, I was in the figurative classroom
waiting for someone to step up, while I waited on the sideline
cheering for them. But nobody else was raising their hand in
the metaphoric class. For so many of us, you get to the point
where you have to make a choice, where you can go with the
crowd, or you can make a stand on principle. This is going to
make me happier in my life. Perhaps this is going to make a
positive change in someone else’s life, culture, or something
else. When you’re trying to be happy and affect that positive
change, sometimes you just have to put yourself out there.
Sometimes you’ll be surprised – I was amazed by the response.
There are people waiting on the sideline like I was. You’ve got
to put yourself out there.
BY GRANT NUSSBAUM
Q&AWITH
JASONCOLLINS’97
CHRONICLE ARCHIVES
16 • BIG REDYEAR IN REVIEW 2013

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What advice would you have for current gay athletes in
high school?
Advice I would have for them is that while I would never judge, I’ll say, it
feels so much better to wake up in the morning knowing that you’re not
living with that mask on, that you don’t have to go out pretending. When
you take that mask off, it’s the same you, the same mannerisms, the same
values, the same wants and dreams. But you’re going to live an honest life,
and you’re going to feel so much better for doing it. Yeah, it’s not going to be
easy, but it’s well worth the journey.
What are your expectations going forward for your
career?
I’m looking forward to signing a contract when free agency begins,
and I’m looking forward to continuing my career as number 98.
I’m still in the mindset that I know I can help an NBA team win
basketball games. It might not necessarily be on the court, it might
be as that solid veteran guy in the locker room, showing the guys
what it means to be a leader. And when my name and number are
called, I’ll be ready to take the court, and go out there and do what I’ve
done my entire 12-year career – do the dirty work, do the small things
that help the team be successful.
If you were in high school today, would you feel comfortable
coming out?
In 2013? I hope I’d have the strength to come out then. I know my family’s
behind me. I was very fortunate that my family loves me unconditionally,
but for so many, when you first come out, you don’t have that support. There
are organizations out there that will raise you up and show you that you’re
beautiful just how God made you. To put yourself what I put myself through,
I don’t wish that on anyone. You’re at war with yourself – it eats at you
mentally, physically, emotionally. To keep putting on that mask, I don’t wish
that on anyone. I hope most people realize, just be yourself and live your life,
and people will raise you up.
Going forward, what are your hopes and
expectations for openly gay athletes?
I hope when the next person comes out the spotlight will
be on them, but it’ll be less and less – that we will publicly
acknowledge it, but that we’ll be like, “can you help us win
games?” As athletes, can you help the team win games, or
if it’s an individual sport, can you go out there like Martina
Navratilova and kick butt? That’s what the focus is on –
she’s a great athlete who happens to be gay. We need that
acknowledgement, but at the same time, it shouldn’t be the
focus.
What impact did playing at Harvard-Westlake have
on you as a player and as a person?
The Harvard-Westlake community is obviously a special
community. There were some friends who have known for
quite some time that I was gay. That trust, that family, that
environment, it fosters trust and loyalty. With regards to the
basketball team – in sports that’s what it’s all about, it’s all about
winning. We went out there and got two state championships,
while gaining lifetime friendships. Some of the guys on that
team knew before the general public, and guarded my secret.
It’s like a family, a Harvard-Westlake family. I have my Harvard-
Westlake family, my Stanford family and my NBA family.
THROWDOWN
Jason Collins ’97
elevates for a dunk in his
senior season with the
Wolverines.
CHRONICLE ARCHIVES