LGBT
Related: About this forumThe first openly gay US athlete will be amazed at opportunities given to them
Rick Welts, the former executive of NBA team the Phoenix Suns, came out as gay in 2011, telling the media: This is one of the last industries where the subject is off limits. Nobodys comfortable in engaging in a conversation.
This week he revealed to business and financial news site Bloomberg that before the news went public he had told Nike executives, who informed him that they would want to endorse any professional big name athlete who came out as gay.
They made it clear to me Nike would embrace it, said Welts. The player who does it, theyre going to be amazed at the additional opportunities that are put on the table, not the ones that are taken off.
Mark Cuban, owner of the NBA team the Dallas Mavericks, weighed in on the issue by saying it would be a marketing goldmine for all involved.
http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2013/04/14/gay-former-nba-chief-the-first-openly-gay-us-athlete-will-be-amazed-at-opportunities-given-to-them/
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Just a friendly reminder that the world IS changing. We may not like the pace, but it's getting better for LGBTers everywhere.
pinto
(106,886 posts)William769
(55,124 posts)Having a national debate with National politicians I believe has made all the difference. Let's keep the pressure on them.
Fearless
(18,421 posts)pinto
(106,886 posts)Just as with other equality movements. And it is changing, on all fronts.
dsc
(52,130 posts)there have been several female ones already it should be noted. Also there have been some gay males in skating who were open.
I think it's more pertaining to the area of organized sports- basically the major American four: baseball, football, hockey, and basketball - which are bastions for homophobia to this day. Many other sports seem to have less a problem with gay athletes.
dsc
(52,130 posts)the WNBA has had several openly lesbian players.
And they are groundbreaking. But there's something about masculinity and homophobia that needs to be tackled, that I think will be the tipping point to total acceptance of LGBT people. No one is going to tell a 300lb linebacker that he's worth less than a straight guy and it'll be harder and harder from homophobes to gain support for that meme.
I think this is very close to the last frontier for gays. So I literally can't wait for the first out QB or point guard.
Fearless
(18,421 posts)It seems perhaps sooner than later based on some rumors running around ESPN. There are straight allies prepared to support them as we've seen, across all major sports too. You just need a Jackie Robinson type player to break the barrier. Plus I'll buy the jersey of anyone and tickets to see anyone who does and I know there are a lot of LGBTers out there who would do the same.
I'd say the last bastion of homophobia is likely NASCAR. We'll see how that goes.