Current Affairs

Jason Collins and Michelle Obama to appear at Democrat LGBT fundraiser

May 05 2013
Written by Corinne Pinfold

The first lady of the United States will appear alongside the recently-out NBA star Jason Collins at an LGBT fundraiser later this month.

A source reported that Jason Collins, who made history in sport by coming out last week, will appear at the Democratic National Committee LGBT Leadership gala on 29 May.

He will be joined at the gala by Michelle Obama, in her first fundraising appearance since her husband Barack Obama’s successful Presidential re-election campaign.

The event will be hosted by Bravo television executive Andy Cohen. Attendees are asked to donate between $1,250 (£800) and $32,400 (£20,800) to support LGBT equality.

Jason Collins on Monday spoke about his sexuality, confirming he is gay in an article in Sports Illustrated magazine. He said: “I’m a 34-year-old NBA center. I’m black. And I’m gay.”

Since coming out, Collins has revealed that he had been making a quiet statement of solidarity with the gay community, every time he stepped out onto the court, by wearing a 98 jersey, in memory of murdered Wisconsin student Matthew Shepard.

Collins has received thousands of messages of support, including from President Barack Obama, and First Lady Michelle Obama, former President Bill Clinton, his teammates, coaches, the Commissioner of the NBA, and countless others.