Allow No One To Make You Feel Ashamed Of Who You Are
Like Princeton Tigers’ football player Mason Darrow in September and Olympian Gus Kenworthy last month, every time someone who doesn’t fit the “gay” stereotype comes out, it makes it easier for that next person does who does. Today, another joins the flock; one of the NBA’s top referees, Bill Kennedy.
NBA referee Bill Kennedy comes out as gay after Rajon Rondo called him gay slurs @SBNation https://t.co/RkP45T0tW9 pic.twitter.com/1iFxPjdYa2
— Outsports (@outsports) December 14, 2015
As Bill Kennedy told Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo Sports:
“I am proud to be an NBA referee and I am proud to be a gay man,” Kennedy told Yahoo Sports on Sunday night. “I am following in the footsteps of others who have self-identified in the hopes that will send a message to young men and women in sports that you must allow no one to make you feel ashamed of who you are.”~ Bill Kennedy
The incident that seemed to be the impetus for the declaration occurred on December 3rd, in a game between game between the Kings and Celtics in Mexico City. Kennedy issued a technical foul to Rajon Rondo in the third quarter.
Deadspin covered the incident that resulted in the NBA suspending Rondo for one game for “directing a derogatory and offensive term towards a game official and not leaving the court in a timely manner upon his ejection.”
Rajon Rondo
In the game officials’ report used as part of the NBA’s investigation – which includes details provided to Yahoo Sports from National Basketball Referee’s Association general counsel Lee Seham – Kennedy and fellow referee Ben Taylor described Rondo’s post-ejection diatribe as including the statements: “You’re a mother———- faggot. … You’re a f——— faggot, Billy.”
Seham reported that a third official, Bennie Adams, outside of hearing distance, “affirmed that Rondo aggressively pursued referee Bill Kennedy and had to be restrained by teammates and escorted off the floor by Sacramento team security.”
The three officials – Kennedy, Taylor and Adams – confirmed those reports in taped interviews conducted by NBA security on Dec. 4, Seham said.
As for what Rajon Rondo is saying now …
They absolutely do not reflect my feelings toward the LGBT community. I did not mean to offend or disrespect anyone.
— Rajon Rondo (@RajonRondo) December 14, 2015
So apparently, he meant “faggot” as a complimentary show of respect?
Bill Kennedy, well done. And thank you!
#OutInSports #OutAthletes #YouCanPlay
Tags: Bill Kennedy, coming out, gay athletes, Rajon Rondo
Will December 15th, 2015 at 8:21 AM
RR might be believable if he had said it once but twice proceeded by “MF” it was personal and a one game suspension isn’t enough. how about 10 days helping LGBT youth?
Hman December 16th, 2015 at 4:59 AM
I am with you on all counts there, Will. RR did issue a formal apology http://www.sbnation.com/2015/12/15/10236356/rajon-rondo-statement-sacramento-kings-gay-slur.