Present day society’s outlook on the LGBT community has been going through an obvious transition over the past few years.
Much has changed, though, with the coming out of former collegiate standout
Michael Sam and the transition of Caitlyn Jenner, former Olympic decathlon champion. These topics are no longer taboo.
Athletes are coming out of the proverbial closet – either with sexual orientation or declarations of being transgender – and are being rewarded and congratulated for it.
It’s amazing to see how far this country has come along in just a few years.
Non-supporters of past generations are being supplanted by a new generation of teens and young adults who push everyone to have pride in what they believe in.
This new outlook on equality has given members of the LGBT community the comfort to open up about their private lifestyle.
Recently, 20-year old David Denson, a baseball player in the Milwaukee Brewers farm-system risked the judgment of others and the well being of his baseball career by coming out to his teammates.
“They said to him, ‘You’re still our teammate. You’re still our brother,” according to an article in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
If this happened a decade ago, Denson would probably be looking for a new career path right now.
The table of discrimination has begun to turn. The discriminators have become those discriminated against. People are beginning to frown upon those who wish to shun gay people.
Brian Burke, President of Hockey Operations for the Calgary Flames and supporter of gay rights, launched youcanplayproject.org, a website that intends to promote the well being of gay athletes in their profession.
The website has received partnerships with multiple professional sport leagues such as the NHL and MLS, among others.
America is beginning to live up to its equality for everyone motto.
The fact that people with different sexual orientations no longer have to feel ashamed to be who they are is a step in the right direction for this country.
Personally, I don’t have deep connections to the gay community or anyone in it.
It’s unlikely I’ll ever attend a pride festival.
However, I’ll never be seen discriminating either. Discrimination is in the past, and acceptance has taken over.