Boston Pride has formally invited NBA player Jason Collins to lead its Pride parade:
“Boston Pride has formally invited Jason Collins to be a Marshal in the 2013 Boston Pride Parade, held June 8th. Boston Pride is proud that our annual celebration helped to inspire Jason Collins to make his groundbreaking decision to come out. We’re also very pleased that he has announced he’ll be marching in this year’s Parade – we’re looking forward to it!”.
Said Collins in his Sports Illustrated coming out announcement:
I realized I needed to go public when Joe Kennedy, my old roommate at Stanford and now a Massachusetts congressman, told me he had just marched in Boston's 2012 Gay Pride Parade. I'm seldom jealous of others, but hearing what Joe had done filled me with envy. I was proud of him for participating but angry that as a closeted gay man I couldn't even cheer my straight friend on as a spectator. If I'd been questioned, I would have concocted half truths. What a shame to have to lie at a celebration of pride. I want to do the right thing and not hide anymore. I want to march for tolerance, acceptance and understanding. I want to take a stand and say, "Me, too."
