Jason Collins Quotes

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Jason Collins

Profession : Basketball Player

Birth : December 2, 1978

A team is like a family.

Jason Collins

It's great to see someone who starts off with one opinion evolve and change his opinion.

Jason Collins

The more people that choose to live an honest and genuine life, the better it is for everyone.

Jason Collins

I was comfortable enough in my own skin to come out on my own terms and in my own words.

Jason Collins

I'm trying to live my life as honestly and authentically as I can.

Jason Collins

Things can change in an instant, so why not live truthfully?

Jason Collins

I didn't set out to be the first openly gay athlete playing in a major American team sport.

Jason Collins

My journey of self-discovery and self-acknowledgement began in my hometown of Los Angeles and has taken me through two state high school championships, the NCAA Final Four and the Elite Eight, and nine playoffs in 12 NBA seasons.

Jason Collins

So, I got asked in January of 2014 to attend the State of the Union and sit as a guest in the first lady's viewing box.

Jason Collins

I do identify myself as a black man before I identify myself as a gay man.

Jason Collins

Twelve years is a long time in any professional sport. I felt that that longevity speaks to something - and to the fact that I've earned a right to speak.

Jason Collins

One goal that I have attained in my life that I'm very proud of is to have a positive impact on someone else's life.

Jason Collins

Hopefully my actions will make it easier for them to live their life, to be whoever they want to be.

Jason Collins

If you were to ask Tony Dungy if he feels like homophobia is in his level of thinking or if he's homophobic, he'd say no. Well, if you were to ask Donald Sterling if he sees how his comments are racist, he said no, too. Some people don't recognize their own racism, homophobia.

Jason Collins

There's only so many times you can write the story about the gay teammate.

Jason Collins

When I was playing with the Brooklyn Nets, we still called people soft, but we never equated it with being gay. It shows people are capable of changing language and culture.

Jason Collins

As a teammate, you want the best of everyone on your team. It's about mentally being able to be all in. Why not create an environment that fosters that?

Jason Collins

I don't have to hide who I am.

Jason Collins

I can just be my normal self.

Jason Collins

You can knock me all you want, but professional basketball players are an elite group and I've been doing it 12 years.

Jason Collins