Offices

https://www.outsports.com/2013/5/6/4302874/jason-collins-nba-nfl-nhl-mls-reactions/

Some key takeaways:

I think if Jason played now and came out today you'd see a lot more negative reactions. Like it's really cool that so many players were positive, but you also kinda get a vibe from a lot of them that that was just the zeitgeist of the time.

A lot of players seemed to have thought that Jason coming out was gonna like open the flood gates to a bunch of other players also admitting they were gay, which didn't happen. I think it'll be interesting to see if maybe Jason's death inspires some people in the coming months. I think probably not though

Why do NFL players talk like that? Every NBA guy is like "Congratulations Jason! Love you brother! #courage" and the MLB players are like "Man if you can play well you can play well it doesn't matter if you're gay or straight". Meanwhile every other NFL player is like "Faced with the gaping maw of oppression, ignorance, and violence, Jason Collins stood bravely on a battlefield strewn with the bodies of those who could never express their true feelings. I find his strength admirable."

These are the parts of the news cycle that are gradually forgotten. Remembering them serves as a reminder that the hatred was still prevalent then; it was just given less validity by institutions. The Westboro Baptist Church is basically defunct now, but its values and approach live on in many other forms, including numerous tiers of the media and federal government. If Collins had come out today, there'd be more bigots with significant platforms. What he did then was brave and noble, and it would be in any year.

https://www.outsports.com/2013/5/6/4302874/jason-collins-nba-nfl-nhl-mls-reactions/

Some key takeaways:

I think if Jason played now and came out today you'd see a lot more negative reactions. Like it's really cool that so many players were positive, but you also kinda get a vibe from a lot of them that that was just the zeitgeist of the time.

A lot of players seemed to have thought that Jason coming out was gonna like open the flood gates to a bunch of other players also admitting they were gay, which didn't happen. I think it'll be interesting to see if maybe Jason's death inspires some people in the coming months. I think probably not though

Why do NFL players talk like that? Every NBA guy is like "Congratulations Jason! Love you brother! #courage" and the MLB players are like "Man if you can play well you can play well it doesn't matter if you're gay or straight". Meanwhile every other NFL player is like "Faced with the gaping maw of oppression, ignorance, and violence, Jason Collins stood bravely on a battlefield strewn with the bodies of those who could never express their true feelings. I find his strength admirable."

These are the parts of the news cycle that are gradually forgotten. Remembering them serves as a reminder that the hatred was still prevalent then; it was just given less validity by institutions. The Westboro Baptist Church is basically defunct now, but its values and approach live on in many other forms, including numerous tiers of the media and federal government. If Collins had come out today, there'd be more bigots with significant platforms. What he did then was brave and noble, and it would be in any year.