Today, TIME Magazine unveiled its annual list of the 100 Most Influential People in the World. Among the notable inclusions was Jason Collins for his brave step decision to come out while still active in a major U.S. sports league.
Chelsea Clinton, a friend of Collins’ since their days at Stanford University, wrote the article about Collins for TIME.
“When Jason called to talk about his forthcoming Sports Illustrated cover story, “The Gay Athlete,” I realized at some point that I wasn’t surprised we were having the conversation we were, ” writes Clinton. “Not because I knew what we were going to talk about when I answered the phone. Rather, because it made eminent sense that it would be Jason becoming the first openly gay, still active pro athlete in a major U.S. sports league.
“Jason’s kindness and fierceness alike derive from that word too often bandied about and too rarely true: integrity. Jason has always maintained he’s first a basketball player. He is. But he’s also a leader and an inspiration. For Michael Sam, Derrick Gordon and others whose names we may never know. And also for those of us lucky enough to be fans — or to call him our friend.”
Beyoncé appears on the cover of the magazine. Facebook Chief Operating Officer Sheryl Sandberg wrote for Beyoncé.
View complete list here.
