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President Obama, First Lady, Announce Support Of Out NBA Player Jason Collins

President Obama called NBA center Jason Collins courageous for being the first openly gay player in the NBA according to the AP:

Obama told Collins he was impressed by his courage. That's according to a White House official who was not authorized to discuss the private conversation publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity.

Earlier Monday, White House spokesman Jay Carney said Collins' decision was another example of progress and evolution in the U.S. as Americans grow more accepting of gay rights and same-sex marriage.

First Lady Michelle Obama also gave Collins a shout-out, tweeting "So proud of you, Jason Collins! This is a huge step forward for our country. We’ve got your back! -mo"

Also going public with their support were President Bill Clinton, Chelsea Clinton (a former classmate of Collins') and Martina Navratilova.

The out tennis legend told Sports Illustrated:

Now that Jason Collins has come out, he is the proverbial "game-changer." One of the last bastions of homophobia has been challenged. How many LGBT kids, once closeted, are now more likely to pursue a team sport and won't be scared away by a straight culture?"

Navratilova also said Collins' coming out "will save lives."

Jason's twin brother, Jaron, said he was "never more proud" of his brother.

It's a big deal— but it's also not a big deal. When the media crush is over, Jason will have the strength to deal with whatever challenges come from being openly gay.

Not all the voices have been supportive: AFA's Bryan Fischer predicted any teammate of Collins' won't "want some guy, a teammate eyeballin' me in the shower."

And ESPN correspondent Chris Broussard announced:

Personally, I don’t believe that you can live an openly homosexual lifestyle or an openly, like premarital sex between heterosexuals. If you’re openly living that type of lifestyle, then the Bible says you know them by their fruits. It says that, you know, that’s a sin. If you’re openly living in unrepentant sin, whatever it may be, not just homosexuality, whatever it maybe, I believe that’s walking in open rebellion to God and to Jesus Christ. So I would not characterize that person as a Christian because I don’t think the bible would characterize them as a Christian.

Y'know, just in case you were wondering what Chris Broussard thought would characterize a Christian.

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