Tuesday, June 3, 2014

Celebrating Equality For All Athletes with #ProudToPlay

From: The Backlot
As the eyes of the world turn to Brazil and the World Cup, YouTube Spotlight takes a moment to show just how far we’ve come with out athletes in recent times.

Set to Nelson Mandela’s epic speech about the power of sport to unite the people of the World from the South Africa’s World Cup, we see athlete after athlete declaring they’re out and proud. Jason Collins, Michael Sam, Tom Daley, and Brittney Griner. Celebrities and world leaders from Ellen DeGeneres to Barack Obama declare their allegience to equality, and legends like Kobe Bryant declare “We have to be brave to step forward and declare to the rest of the world: This is who I am.

It was only 13 months ago that Jason Collins came out. Robbie Rogers a mere 15 months ago. Michael Sam, Tom Daley are all quite new, as is the idea that elite athletes can be out, proud and successful, and as we hit both Pride month and the world’s biggest sporting event, this is a beautiful way to reflect on how far we’ve come.

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