John Amaechi interview on his coming out, his career, his future, and his take on the Olympics

From Mancunian Matters:

He made history back in 2007 when he spoke about his sexuality, and became the first NBA player to publicly come out. The 6ft 10in retired basketball player and New York Times best-selling author John Amaechi talked to MM about homophobia, his passion for psychology, about door policies on Canal Street, Manchester Pride and the Olympics.

You were the first NBA player to come out. Why did you do it and how did it feel?

In the States the situation for LGBT people was very different than here. For me it was a political as much as a personal thing. I wanted to shine a light on the issues and I felt like I had the right voice to do it.

How did it feel? Before that time, it was terrifying because some people can be quite extreme. All my family, all my friends, most of my team mates knew, so it was not a surprise for them. But it was a big story and it was a bit scary. I knew I would hear that small minority of society – it is a small minority but they speak very loudly.

You were subject to death threats… 


I still occasionally get them. I got one recently actually. These people are cowards. They hide behind false emails and false Facebook pages. I never once met a person who stood up and said it in my face. Never once.

They think I am a threat to their worldview. They think that I am promoting homosexuality by simply existing.

Why do you think it is important that people speak out?


It is important for anybody who feels in inequality to speak out. The silence is what kills.

Vulnerable people – be it young people, LGBT people or just different people – aren’t just hurt by the tiny minority who speak out and say nasty things. They are hurt by the vast majority of people who call themselves reasonable, who call themselves progressive and open-minded. Yet when they hear the minority say hateful things, they don’t speak.

We hear a lot about words being used like poison. It is important to speak out so that words can be used as an antidote too.

[...]


What do you expect from London 2012 Olympics?

I am sure that the medal table and the gold medal table will be reached or very nearly reached because a massive amount of money has been invested.

But I don’t think there will be any particular massive legacy from the games outside from some really important business things. Great work has been done with all the Olympic partners to bring them up to a new level and a new standard in terms of employee diversity, supplier diversity. That’s brilliant.

But in terms of getting two million people to play sport, which was the original goal, that’s not going to happen. It will be a fun show though, an expensive fun show.

Read in full HERE.