‘Can’t Just Put People In A Box’: Gay NBA Player Opens Up To George Stephanopoulos About Coming Out

Penning a piece for Sports Illustrated, NBA player Jason Collins became the first openly gay athlete playing for a major American sports team. Collins, the 34-year-old center for the Washington Wizards, sat down for an interview with George Stephanopoulos, which aired on Good Morning America. People like him, he said, are trying to “rewrite” the stereotype.

“I’m a 34-year-old NBA center. I’m black. And I’m gay,” Collins wrote.

Collins spoke to Stephanopoulos about going through his own version of the 12 steps. “When you finally get to that point of acceptance,” he said, “there’s nothing more beautiful. […] It’s incredible. You just try to live an honest, genuine life, and the next thing you know, you have the president calling you.”

President Obama expressed his support Collins said, and told him he was proud of him. “I’m ready to raise my hand,” Collins added, “but you still look around, and it’s like, ‘Okay, come on, guys.'”

Collins thanked those who have supported him and, as he wrote in his piece, touched upon how he goes against the gay stereotype.

“People like me are trying to rewrite that stereotype,” Collins said, “and trying to let people know that you can’t just put people in a box.”

Take a look, via ABC:

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