LGBTQ news and entertainment
The Boy Scouts of America voted today 61% to 38% to approve a resolution lifting a ban on gay scouts. Over 1,400 volunteer leaders took part in the vote.
The current ban on openly gay scout leaders remains in effect.
Read more at NBC News
From GLAAD:
Tomorrow, 1400 members of the Boy Scouts’ National Council will converge in Dallas to vote on a resolution critical to the Boy Scouts’ longstanding ban on gay members.
James Dale — an openly gay former Eagle Scout whose membership was revoked by the BSA — has a special request:
Show your support for equality in the Boy Scouts: Change your profile pic now.
Now more than ever we all must speak up about why gay youth and parents should be able to participate in the Boy Scouts.
NBA center Jason Collins, currently a free agent, is coming out of the closet and is now the first openly gay male player in a major pro sport, SI reports:
I’m a 34-year-old NBA center. I’m black. And I’m gay.
I didn’t set out to be the first openly gay athlete playing in a major American team sport. But since I am, I’m happy to start the conversation. I wish I wasn’t the kid in the classroom raising his hand and saying, “I’m different.” If I had my way, someone else would have already done this. Nobody has, which is why I’m raising my hand.
My journey of self-discovery and self-acknowledgement began in my hometown of Los Angeles and has taken me through two state high school championships, the NCAA Final Four and the Elite Eight, and nine playoffs in 12 NBA seasons.
I’ve played for six pro teams and have appeared in two NBA Finals. Ever heard of a parlor game called Three Degrees of Jason Collins? If you’re in the league, and I haven’t been your teammate, I surely have been one of your teammates’ teammates. Or one of your teammates’ teammates’ teammates.
Now I’m a free agent, literally and figuratively. I’ve reached that enviable state in life in which I can do pretty much what I want. And what I want is to continue to play basketball. I still love the game, and I still have something to offer. My coaches and teammates recognize that. At the same time, I want to be genuine and authentic and truthful.
Read Jason’s entire story at Sports Illustrated.
Alan Gendreau, the placekicker who is hoping to become the first openly gay player in the NFL, was the first out player to enter the draft this week. Unfortunately, he’s still waiting to be picked.
Check out his interview with ABC News while we wait. Fingers crossed Gendreau at least gets a shot at making it in the NFL.
(via the Advocate)
Video and story at TMZ.
EJ is a student at NYU and has a close relationship with his parents:
New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski appeared on ESPN Radio New York recently saying that he’s fine with a gay player on the team:
“I got this question before, about a year ago, and I basically will say the same answer that I did a year ago. You’ve got to accept the player. Everyone has their own ways to live their life and as long as he’s respecting me, keeping distance, respecting myself, I’ll respect him back. If he’s being a great teammate and he’s a guy on the field doing a great job, well then you’ve got nothing to complain about. He’s another teammate and another friend.”
“If someone is on my team and they are a great teammate and a great player on the field, helping the team win — that’s all you’ve got to ask for.”
No active NFL player has publicly come out as gay, although a report from CBSSports.com this week states that a current NFL player is “strongly considering” doing so.
(via ESPN)