Jason Collins 2013 Boston Pride Parade [PHOTOS, VIDEO]; NBA Star Marches Wearing #BeTrue T-Shirt
NBA veteran Jason Collins marched in Boston's gay pride parade with Massachusetts Congressman Joe Kennedy III on June 8.
Collins wore a T-shirt that read #BeTrue when he joined thousands of marchers Saturday.
View a photo of Collins taking part in the parade here.
The 34-year-old became the first active player in one of the four major U.S. professional sports leagues to come out as gay in April. He wrote in an article for Sports Illustrated that the decision to go public came when Kennedy marched in last year's parade and Collins did not feel that he could join him.
He and Kennedy were roommates when they attended Stanford University.
Collins also said the Boston Marathon bombing made in clear that things can change in an instant, inspiring him to make the decision to live in such a way that he remains truthful.
He played for six teams in 12 seasons and currently plays for the Washington Wizards. He becomes a free agent next month.
Ellen Degeneres congratulated Collins in an announcement on her show, The Ellen Degeneres, on April 30.
View a video of the comedian's public support of Collins below.
White House spokesman Jay Carney described Collins' decision as courageous and said that the White House supports the basketball player.
We view that as another example of the progress that has been made and the evolution that has been taking place in this country," Carney said.
Organizing for Action, a grassroots group run by Obama supporters that developed after the president's 2012 re-election campaign, expressed support as well and wrote a tweet to Collins that the group's supporters "stand with you today."
Collins did receive negative feedback, however, when CBS announcer and radio host Tim Brando announced via Twitter that the NBA star is not a hero.
