Massachusetts Congressman Joseph Kennedy III and Jason Collins, the first openly gay player in the NBA (now retired), were roommates in college and have been buddies every since. You can read all about that in Boston Spirit‘s May/June issue.
You can also meet Kennedy and Collins in person at Pride & Passion, the annual benefit bash for PFLAG (Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer people) of Greater Boston. The event starts at 6 pm. Monday, May 11, at Boston’s Seaport World Trade Center, 200 Seaport Boulevard.
UMass basketball player Derrick Gordon will also be show his support at the event with “a moving tribute in support of Greater Boston PFLAG’s mission to create environments of understanding, inclusion, and acceptance of LGBTQ people,” according to a recent Greater Boston PFLAG press release, which went on to say:
“‘Rep. Kennedy and Collins personify everything the organization stands for. Leading by example, Representative Kennedy and Jason Collins are changing hearts and minds, making environments safer for LGBTQ people,’ said [Greater Boston PFLAG President Tom] Bourdon. ‘Their actions and interactions demonstrate the importance of people being supportive of each other, and prove how powerful inclusion and acceptance can be.’
Rep. Kennedy is a lawyer, politician, and member of the Kennedy family, serving as the U.S. Representative for Massachusetts’ 4th congressional district since 2013. Kennedy has declared, ‘I believe this country was founded on a simple idea: that every person deserves to be treated fairly, by each other and by their government.’ A long-time advocate for equal marriage and LGBTQ rights, Rep. Kennedy was quick to offer his private counsel and public support to his friend Jason Collins when he came out.
Jason Collins was a professional basketball player who last played for the Brooklyn Nets. After completing the 2012-2013 season as a Boston Celtic, Collins publicly came out as gay. When he signed with the Nets in 2014, he became the first publicly gay athlete to play in any of the four major North American pro sports leagues. Collins credits, in part, the enduring friendship and support he received from his long-time friend and former college roommate Joe Kennedy, with helping him find the courage to come out and live openly as a gay man.
‘We are honored to recognize these two commendable individuals who have done so much to inspire and educate our community,’ said Bourdon. ‘We are extremely proud to also be joined by Derrick Gordon, the first NCAA Men’s Division 1 basketball player to come out as gay. Derrick points to Jason Collins as a mentor and inspiration in his life. It’s going to be a very powerful evening.’
For tickets and the whole scoop, go to www.gbpflag.org/prideandpassion or call (781) 891-5966.
