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Fearless

(18,421 posts)
Sun Apr 14, 2013, 05:04 PM Apr 2013

The 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. Nobody’s 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, they’re 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.

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The first openly gay US athlete will be amazed at opportunities given to them (Original Post) Fearless Apr 2013 OP
Interesting take. pinto Apr 2013 #1
Yes it is changing in spite of certain groups. William769 Apr 2013 #2
Absolutely! +1 Fearless Apr 2013 #3
+1. Social / cultural trends are leading the political debate. pinto Apr 2013 #4
except they wouldn't be the first openly gay us athelete dsc Apr 2013 #5
True Fearless Apr 2013 #6
but even there women have lead the way dsc Apr 2013 #7
Very true Fearless Apr 2013 #8
that is true dsc Apr 2013 #9
We will see it, I'm sure of it. Fearless Apr 2013 #10

William769

(55,124 posts)
2. Yes it is changing in spite of certain groups.
Sun Apr 14, 2013, 05:09 PM
Apr 2013

Having a national debate with National politicians I believe has made all the difference. Let's keep the pressure on them.

pinto

(106,886 posts)
4. +1. Social / cultural trends are leading the political debate.
Sun Apr 14, 2013, 05:15 PM
Apr 2013

Just as with other equality movements. And it is changing, on all fronts.

dsc

(52,130 posts)
5. except they wouldn't be the first openly gay us athelete
Sun Apr 14, 2013, 07:18 PM
Apr 2013

there have been several female ones already it should be noted. Also there have been some gay males in skating who were open.

Fearless

(18,421 posts)
6. True
Mon Apr 15, 2013, 12:12 AM
Apr 2013

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.

Fearless

(18,421 posts)
8. Very true
Mon Apr 15, 2013, 12:21 AM
Apr 2013

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.

dsc

(52,130 posts)
9. that is true
Mon Apr 15, 2013, 12:24 AM
Apr 2013

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)
10. We will see it, I'm sure of it.
Mon Apr 15, 2013, 12:31 AM
Apr 2013

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.

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