NBA player Jason Collins comes out as gay

I mean yes, especially since he's the first in the U.S. realm of major league sports, but don't say that like he's the first in general. Many LGBT people have come out in quickening succession over recent years as general societal consensus becomes more favorable and accepting of diverse sexualities. For example, plenty have already had their opinions changed with the announcements of people like Ellen Degeneres, Neil Patrick Harris, and Anderson Cooper.

Of course he isn't
I was just saying that well known and well liked people coming out is obviously a good thing, because people will think "Oh, I still admire them even though they are gay, guess it doesn't mean that much"
Him being in sports, and an American national one at that definitely will get a lot of people thinking. "this guy isn't what I expected", "this guy has had to hide his sexuality" and other stuff.

most of the comments I've seen about this have been along the lines of "Why is this news? he's gay? so what?" which is good in it's own right, but clearly shows that some people don't understand some of the issues LGBT people face.

Point is, regardless of who it is, the first person to set the precedent makes waves and, ultimately, does change a lot. Sure, Collins is towards the end of his career and isn't a star athlete, but by opening the door he allows other players, maybe some big names in professional sports, to finally summon the confidence to cross the threshold as well.

I do agree with this, it's definitely a starting point anyway. My point was simply that I don't believe it will affect other more "in focus" athletes, and that it speaks badly for the LGBT athletes that they have to come out after they are retired or when their career has run it's course. Which could possibly scare athletes from coming out if it could mean the end of their career.

Still though, he hasn't retired yet. So it's definitely a step in the right direction, and I hope you are right that it does cause waves and make a change.

I wouldn't call it a narrow focus by the way, we were looking away from the obvious benefits of this and how it relates to LGBT people in sports as a whole, what's narrow about that?