The NBA Needs Queer Players

For a heterosexual NBA player currently in the league, it can almost be guaranteed that they feel absolutely no pressure being open about who they love, because who and how they love is considered "normal." The only real issue a heterosexual athlete having relationship-wise unless they are being unfaithful, secretly in love with someone of their own family, or legal issues. I hope for none of these things, but people are people and you never know what you’re going to get.

This completely changes for a gay or bisexual athlete in the NBA. With this wild and surging social media driven era that we see ourselves in currently, it is hard to be open and comfortable with even the most simplest of things. Players are constantly tweeted and talked at, being degraded just for their play on the court. Of course, for those who have quite noisy off court activity, they may be experiencing some feedback for those actions as well. One example of this would be the the so-called "Kardashian Curse," in which NBA players who have romantically involved themselves with a Kardashian have had some type of downward spiral on the court, off court, or both. The internet has not treated those well who have been accused of receiving the "curse." If NBA players and other famous athletes alike are socially attacked for these types of things, how far would an attack on an openly gay or bisexual athlete go?

I imagine the threats our prospective athletes would receive would be tremendous. Discrimination from fans, front offices, and possibly even teammates could be so emotionally destructive that a they would leave the league entirely. Opposing players could try to use their sexuality against them, calling them offensive slurs and purposely targeting them. The angry tirades they would receive online and in person would be nasty, and I do not even want to imagine the kinds of things that would be said, especially if a racial aspect were to be involved as well. It would be something ugly how people would treat these athletes, but what if there were someone, or someones, that would take that all for the sake of standing up for future and current basketball players who want to be in the NBA?

Representation matters. I know, a very overused narrative used on Twitter, but it is really the truth. It is so much easier to feel like something is possible when you see someone like you succeeding and doing what you can only dream of doing. A player with a skill set like Stephen Curry’s, or the freakish talent of Giannis Antetokounmpo that was also gay or bisexual would wake up a whole new fanbase in the NBA. I truly do not believe the league itself would receive an overwhelming amount of backlash. It may show the true character of some individuals in the league, but I also believe that a massive amount of support would also spill over. Not every athlete in the NBA is a straight male. Out of more than 450 athletes, it is nearly impossible for every single one of them to be heterosexual due to all of different types of people they are.

In the WNBA, athletes who do find themselves to be a part of the LGBT community are often highly depicted. Many talented players like Sue Bird, Elena Delle Donne, and Stefanie Dolson are out and also proud, and can be seen happily sharing their lives with the person they love. Although the WNBA is a different league, what will it take for NBA players who are a part of the LGBT community some way receive the same type of treatment? It is obvious that one can be homosexual and still succeed greatly at the game of basketball, but why is it not obvious to everyone? The idea of men in sports being overly masculine in order to be tough is definitely a troubling and apparent topic which hurts the confidence to be out, but why can we not have a seemingly feminine NBA player who also averages 30 points or a triple double?

One should not be ashamed for loving who they love. That is not fair to them, no matter what occupation they have. Of course fame may complicate a situation further in this case, but it is definitely better to be out and proud of it compared to being caught by paparazzi or rumors leaking out and damaging an athlete’s image. Coming it out is a very hard thing to do, but it is not impossible. Within in the next couple of years, I really hope to see an NBA player come out and not care at all what someone has to say about it. It is their life they are living at the end of the day, so what is it to anyone else?