--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I'm black and I'm gay." description: "\"I'm black and I'm gay.\" — Jason Collins" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/94a/jason-collins-4195_black_i-m-black-and-i-m-gay-579116_579116.png" --- # I'm black and I'm gay. ![“I'm black and I'm gay.” quote by Jason Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/94a/jason-collins-4195_black_i-m-black-and-i-m-gay-579116_579116.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/94a/jason-collins-4195_black_i-m-black-and-i-m-gay-579116_579116.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/94a/jason-collins-4195_black_i-m-black-and-i-m-gay-579116_579116.png) > “I'm black and I'm gay.” [Jason Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-collins/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Openly acknowledging multiple marginalized identities challenges stereotypes and promotes inclusion. **In simple terms:** Being black and gay defies expectations, encouraging acceptance. Key Takeaway Embrace identity, support others. Themes identity diversity inclusion sports visibility Mood hopeful determined inspirational Type motivational social When to use this quote - team environments - public speaking - media interviews Key Concepts social justice intersectionality role modeling Questions to Reflect On - How can allies better support intersectional identities? - What impact does representation have on youth? A Different Perspective Public visibility can attract backlash. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/black/) [Black Gay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/black-gay-318786/) [Gay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gay/) ## Related quotes > [Black gay activists should try to build coalitions of people for the elimination of all injustice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bayard-rustin/black-gay-activists-should-try-to-build-coalitions-of-people-for-the/) [Bayard Rustin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bayard-rustin/) > [I'm a 34-year-old NBA center. I'm black. And I'm gay,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-collins/i-m-a-34-year-old-nba-center-i-m-black-and-i-m-gay/) [Jason Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-collins/) > [I'm a 34-year-old NBA center. I'm black. And I'm gay. I didn't set out to be the first openly gay athlete playing in a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-collins/i-m-a-34-year-old-nba-center-i-m-black-and-i-m-gay-i-didn-t-set-out/) [Jason Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-collins/) > [From 1968 on, I was pretty much the black, gay SF writer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-r-delany/from-1968-on-i-was-pretty-much-the-black-gay-sf-writer/) [Samuel R. Delany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-r-delany/) > [America wasn't interested in the roots of house music because it was too black, it was too gay, it was all these things, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felix-buxton/america-wasn-t-interested-in-the-roots-of-house-music-because-it-was/) [Felix Buxton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felix-buxton/) > [I don't think there's been many chances for people to see a black, gay, pop experience and that's what I want to have with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mnek/i-don-t-think-there-s-been-many-chances-for-people-to-see-a-black-gay/) [MNEK](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mnek/) > [It wouldn't have mattered to my mother if I married a black, was gay, lived in a commune or wore a dress.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-weinberg/it-wouldn-t-have-mattered-to-my-mother-if-i-married-a-black-was-gay/) [George Weinberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-weinberg/) > [Southern black gay and bi men are suffering from a self-esteem issue.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karamo-brown/southern-black-gay-and-bi-men-are-suffering-from-a-self-esteem-issue/) [Karamo Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karamo-brown/) > [The perspective that I come from when I sing, when I perform, is of who I am as a black gay man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mnek/the-perspective-that-i-come-from-when-i-sing-when-i-perform-is-of-who/) [MNEK](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mnek/) > [I'm a black, gay man, and I should be able to live in a world where I'm able to live in the complexity of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deray-mckesson/i-m-a-black-gay-man-and-i-should-be-able-to-live-in-a-world-where-i-m/) [DeRay Mckesson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deray-mckesson/) > [It's better to be black than gay because when you're black you don't have to tell your mother.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-s-better-to-be-black-than-gay-because-when-you-re-black-you-don-t/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The black gay experience isn't one that is often told.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ncuti-gatwa/the-black-gay-experience-isn-t-one-that-is-often-told/) [Ncuti Gatwa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ncuti-gatwa/) > [I am a Black, gay, immigrant woman.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karine-jean-pierre/i-am-a-black-gay-immigrant-woman/) [Karine Jean-Pierre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karine-jean-pierre/) > [I'm black. I'm gay. I'm culturally Christian. I am a walking target on so many levels, and it is horrifying and a cross that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tituss-burgess/i-m-black-i-m-gay-i-m-culturally-christian-i-am-a-walking-target-on/) [Tituss Burgess](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tituss-burgess/) > [I didn't always see someone that I could relate to, that would tell me that being Black and gay is okay.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mnek/i-didn-t-always-see-someone-that-i-could-relate-to-that-would-tell-me/) [MNEK](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mnek/) ## More by Jason Collins > [I didn't set out to be the first openly gay athlete playing in a major American team sport.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-collins/i-didn-t-set-out-to-be-the-first-openly-gay-athlete-playing-in-a/) [Jason Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-collins/) > [The most you can do is stand up for what you believe in. I'm much happier since coming out to my friends and family.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-collins/the-most-you-can-do-is-stand-up-for-what-you-believe-in-i-m-much/) [Jason Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-collins/) > [It's my job to go out there and do my job and be ready when my name and number is called, regardless of what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-collins/it-s-my-job-to-go-out-there-and-do-my-job-and-be-ready-when-my-name/) [Jason Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-collins/) > [Anytime you lose a lot of weight you're going to feel lighter on your feet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-collins/anytime-you-lose-a-lot-of-weight-you-re-going-to-feel-lighter-on-your/) [Jason Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-collins/) > [I have had a moment where, well actually a couple moments, where people in the realm of sports have confided in me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-collins/i-have-had-a-moment-where-well-actually-a-couple-moments-where-people/) [Jason Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-collins/) > [The best part of when you reveal your authentic self publicly is that it will allow those people around you, whether it's your teammates…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-collins/the-best-part-of-when-you-reveal-your-authentic-self-publicly-is-that/) [Jason Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-collins/) > [As all professional athletes know, Father Time is undefeated, and when I wake up in the morning, my back especially lets me know that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-collins/as-all-professional-athletes-know-father-time-is-undefeated-and-when/) [Jason Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-collins/) > [I am in love with the creator of heaven and earth. I see the morning sun and thank the Lord for everything that he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-collins/i-am-in-love-with-the-creator-of-heaven-and-earth-i-see-the-morning/) [Jason Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-collins/) > [For many young people growing up in minority communities, there is a sense that their lives are disposable. As athletes, we have a platform…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-collins/for-many-young-people-growing-up-in-minority-communities-there-is-a/) [Jason Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-collins/) > [The NBA is like a brotherhood.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-collins/the-nba-is-like-a-brotherhood/) [Jason Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-collins/) > [I've met many people who have come up to me and told me how my story has impacted them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-collins/i-ve-met-many-people-who-have-come-up-to-me-and-told-me-how-my-story/) [Jason Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-collins/) > [So, I got asked in January of 2014 to attend the State of the Union and sit as a guest in the first lady's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-collins/so-i-got-asked-in-january-of-2014-to-attend-the-state-of-the-union/) [Jason Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-collins/) > [There's only so many times you can write the story about the gay teammate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-collins/there-s-only-so-many-times-you-can-write-the-story-about-the-gay/) [Jason Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-collins/) > [Openness may not completely disarm prejudice, but it's a good place to start.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-collins/openness-may-not-completely-disarm-prejudice-but-it-s-a-good-place-to/) [Jason Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-collins/) > [I knew that I was choosing the road less traveled but I'm not walking it alone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-collins/i-knew-that-i-was-choosing-the-road-less-traveled-but-i-m-not-walking/) [Jason Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-collins/) [Explore all 114 Jason Collins quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-collins/) ## More Black quotes > [I wanted to write about voodoo tradition that I feel has been very important to survival of black people here: people of the African…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesmyn-ward/i-wanted-to-write-about-voodoo-tradition-that-i-feel-has-been-very/) [Jesmyn Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesmyn-ward/) > [When you go to a club it's not about being black or white or heavy or thick. I'm shaking my ass because I want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miley-cyrus/when-you-go-to-a-club-it-s-not-about-being-black-or-white-or-heavy-or/) [Miley Cyrus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miley-cyrus/) > [The vision of the left, full of envy and resentment, takes its worst toll on those at the bottom - whether black or white…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-sowell/the-vision-of-the-left-full-of-envy-and-resentment-takes-its-worst/) [Thomas Sowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-sowell/) > [When you're scared - and I mean really scared, not just hearing a noise in the night, or standing toe to toe with someone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-gordon-smith/when-you-re-scared-and-i-mean-really-scared-not-just-hearing-a-noise/) [Alexander Gordon Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-gordon-smith/) > [The term "black metal" has become a lot looser, or can include a larger range of sounds and extra-musical aesthetics, not just Satan and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-marston/the-term-black-metal-has-become-a-lot-looser-or-can-include-a-larger/) [Colin Marston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-marston/) > [How can you be more subject; black woman in a white man's world?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maureen-duffy/how-can-you-be-more-subject-black-woman-in-a-white-man-s-world/) [Maureen Duffy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maureen-duffy/) > [We have to build our own power. We have to win every single political office we can, where we have a majority of black…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fannie-lou-hamer/we-have-to-build-our-own-power-we-have-to-win-every-single-political/) [Fannie Lou Hamer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fannie-lou-hamer/) > [There is only one party in the United States, the Property Party...and it has two right wings: Republican and Democrat. Republicans are a bit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gore-vidal/there-is-only-one-party-in-the-united-states-the-property-party-and/) [Gore Vidal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gore-vidal/) > [Black music has always known, and not been afraid to acknowledge just how high the stakes of Black thought are. To summarize the final…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-b-wilderson-iii/black-music-has-always-known-and-not-been-afraid-to-acknowledge-just/) [Frank B. Wilderson III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-b-wilderson-iii/) > [I know how hard it is to be a woman, especially a black woman.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-tyson/i-know-how-hard-it-is-to-be-a-woman-especially-a-black-woman/) [Mike Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-tyson/) > [If soot stains your tunic, dye it black. This is vengeance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-scott-bakker/if-soot-stains-your-tunic-dye-it-black-this-is-vengeance/) [R. Scott Bakker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-scott-bakker/) > [Hollywood is so fixated on keeping it that way because it's generating the buzz, but that representation isn't right. I definitely feel like it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-boyega/hollywood-is-so-fixated-on-keeping-it-that-way-because-it-s/) [John Boyega](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-boyega/) > [Nowadays most people wear black most of the time anyway: go to a literary party and one would imagine everyone there was in perpetual…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fay-weldon/nowadays-most-people-wear-black-most-of-the-time-anyway-go-to-a/) [Fay Weldon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fay-weldon/) > [There ain't no such thing as black Muslims. That's how they tried to cut off all my brothers in the rest of the world…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muhammad-ali/there-ain-t-no-such-thing-as-black-muslims-that-s-how-they-tried-to/) [Muhammad Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muhammad-ali/) > [We do not want to be reminded that it is we, the indigenous people, who are poor and exploited in the land of our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-biko/we-do-not-want-to-be-reminded-that-it-is-we-the-indigenous-people-who/) [Steven Biko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-biko/) [Browse all 11,655 Black quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/black/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I'm black and I'm gay.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Jason Collins" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-collins/i-m-black-and-i-m-gay/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Black" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-collins/i-m-black-and-i-m-gay/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/94a/jason-collins-4195_black_i-m-black-and-i-m-gay-579116_579116.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/94a/jason-collins-4195_black_i-m-black-and-i-m-gay-579116_579116.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/94a/jason-collins-4195_black_i-m-black-and-i-m-gay-579116_579116.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I'm black and I'm gay.” — Jason Collins", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Jason Collins", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-collins/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I'm black and I'm gay.", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-collins/i-m-black-and-i-m-gay/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-collins/i-m-black-and-i-m-gay/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```