opinion
Chronicle
Page 9 | Friday, May 3, 2013
Collins’ announcement one small step forward Alexandra TUrcios Staff Reporter
Jason Collins, back-up center for the Washington Wizards, came out on Monday, May 29 on a Sports Illustrated interview. Collins is the first major American sports player to come out while still active. Collins’ coming out is monumental because it will affect a huge demographic of people that will look at him as a role model for his power to stand up against social constraints and prejudice. Now is the perfect time to stand up for one’s own sexual orientation with so much attention geared towards the gay rights movement. Carlos Martinez is a CLC student and spoke out about Collins’ coming out. “As a gay man who defies the feminine stereotype of a homosexual male, [Collins] coming out as an athlete is a clear progression towardse-
quality,” Martinez said. “But it leaves me questioning ‘what’s the big deal?’” Yes, this is a step towards society accepting gay people, but why are we making them climb a ladder towards acceptance? The media attention Collins is receiving is a bit ridiculous. Collins should not have to face such massive news coverage. Sexuality and sports create a false dichotomy: why does sexual orientation have to conflict with one’s athletic ability? It doesn’t, but the way media is covering the story is with engrossed fascination that a sports player is coming out. It should not have to be that way.We are glorifying Collins’ coming out as if it is a phenomenon that a gay male could play the role of the archetypal, straight, American athlete. While it’s hard to dissipate the countless former years that conservative views on homosexuality have pre-
dominated our culture, I’d like to believe that our country is mentally able to fully accept them now. We are in the 21st century. Sexuality is a topic we are all very aware of. Gender stereotypes are contextual to the time period-however ambiguous the definition is. In the modern day, we should be able to move past stereotypes, gender typing and fascist ideals of how one identifies their sexual orientation. Collins is being branded the ‘gay athlete’ but is this necessary? Why is there a need to label Collins, alienate him and perceive him as different from everyone else? In reality, his coming out is most likely a means of trying to connect. His coming out is an opportunity to unite people so disbanded from one another. Coming out can be viewed like reaching a hand out for acceptance, a liberation of shackles. Sexuality is something we are all entitled
to and should be comfortable with. Exploring your sexuality is normal and one should not feel obligated to conceal who they truly are. “I wasn’t mentally there. I wasn’t comfortable in my own skin. If you had asked me five years ago if I was gay I would’ve flat-out lied to you and denied it,” Collins said. “I’d have been lying to you and lying to myself.” Homosexual males can
encompass everything a heterosexual man can without the passive feminist behaviors associated with living that lifestyle. Sexual orientation is what we should make universally accepted regardless of race, gender, class. Collins coming out is a baby step towards addressing this broad issue our society faces. Hopefully this will open doors to acceptance on a larger scale.
Sports Illustrated
Collins’ recent announcement has received outrageous attention. The fact that people are shocked an NBA player is gay is the problem.
FAST-TRACK PROGRAMS Business Hospitality Organizational Leadership Paralegal Studies Psychology
20+ fast-track degree programs. ROOSEVELT.EDU/FAST or text FAST to 57711
ON YOUR MARK. GET SET. FAST-TRACK. FAST-TRACK BACHELOR’S DEGREES. You’ve worked hard and achieved a lot. What’s your next step? Earn your bachelor’s degree, quickly and affordably, from Roosevelt. Consider our Chicago and Schaumburg campuses your launchpad—and take your career to new heights. Less time. Less money. More prepared. We’ve been doing fast for a long time—since our founding, in fact. For decades Roosevelt has specialized in educating adult students, offering 20+ programs in relevant, timely fields.