The sports world is mourning the loss of a true pioneer. Jason Collins, the former NBA center who made history as the first openly gay active player in a major North American professional sports league, has passed away at age 47 after a battle with brain cancer. His death has sparked an outpouring of grief and gratitude from the LGBTQ+ community and allies alike.
Collins broke barriers in 2013 when he came out as gay while still playing in the NBA, becoming a trailblazer not just for basketball, but for all of professional sports. At the time, no active athlete in the NFL, MLB, NBA, or NHL had ever publicly acknowledged being gay. His courage changed the game—and the conversation—forever.
“To call Jason Collins a groundbreaking figure for our community is simply inadequate. We truly lost a giant today,” said Kelley Robinson, president of the Human Rights Campaign. “He came out as gay—while still playing—at a time when men’s athletes simply did not do that. But as he powerfully demonstrated in his final years in the league and his post-NBA career, stepping forward as he did boldly changed the conversation. He was and will always be a legend for the LGBTQ+ community.”
GLAAD echoed that sentiment in a heartfelt Instagram tribute: “Devastated to hear of the passing of Jason Collins, who made history when he came out in 2013 and then became the first out gay athlete to play in any of the four major North American pro sports leagues. Our hearts are with everyone who knew and loved him.”
Hudson Taylor, founder of Athlete Ally, an organization dedicated to LGBTQ+ inclusion in sports, remembered Collins as a role model and friend: “I’ve had the privilege of working with Jason for over a decade. We worked to make sports a space where athletes didn’t have to hide who they loved. A place where athletes understood the power of their words and used their platform to make the world a better place. Jason was a trailblazer—the only NBA player to come out while still playing in the league. Jason spent every moment since co-creating a more inclusive world.”
Collins' legacy extends far beyond the hardwood. He showed athletes everywhere that authenticity is strength, and his impact will continue to inspire generations to come. As we remember him, we celebrate a life lived with purpose, courage, and a commitment to making sports—and the world—a more welcoming place for everyone.