LBGT Debate

After hearing the debate/discussion on the LBGT issue, I had a few observations and questions I’d like to address.  First one of the groups mentions the potential endorsement loss LBGT athletes possibly face if they come out, because of similar situations like Kobe Bryant and Tiger Woods.  Those issues addressed both highly publicized scandals that were completely frowned upon by the media and society. Being an LBGT athlete on the other hand, has become more accepting by the public. I feel that for organization to drop an endorsement for a LBGT athlete that comes out while active could be a detrimental PR hit for the company.

I also thought about the question whether there is valid comparison between Jackie Robinson breaking the racial barrier in baseball and Jason Collin coming out as the first active gay athlete. Only the future can answer that question.  Let me explain. During the time of when Jackie Robinson became the first black baseball player, segregation was an accepted norm by most Americans, many of whom believed that there was absolutely nothing wrong with it.  It wasn’t until decades later, when we have seen other examples of racial barriers being broken in the United States, we understood, as Americans, the severity and wrongfulness of racial segregation. Today we live in a society where it’s accepted and often praised upon to be homophobic. Later down the road, if and when we see other gay athletes come out the closet and there is a shift in the way Americans view people who are LBGT, then we can acknowledge the similarities of Jackie Robinson and Jason Collins situations.

B. Nguy

Kin 577

LT 24