NBA Star Calls Out Homophobia On Twitter

[DonViejo]

By Annie-Rose Strasser on Feb 11, 2013 at 1:49 pm

One of the most famous players in the National Basketball Association, Kobe Bryant, took to Twitter on Sunday to tell a fan to stop using ‘gay’ as an insult.

After a man identifying as Michael on Twitter tweeted “you’re gay” at another person, the LA Lakers shooting guard called them both out on Twitter — in a tweet that elicited over 3,000 retweets and 2,000 favorites:

Kobe Bryant ✔ @kobebryant

Just letting you know@PacSmoove @pookeo9 that using "your gay" as a way to put someone down ain't ok! #notcool delete that out ur vocab
12:44 AM - 11 Feb 13

Bryant has clearly come a long way from a few years ago, when he called the referee at a game a “fucking fag.” That action incurred a $100,000 fine from the NBA, and actually prompted the Lakers to film a Public Service Announcement about using ‘gay’ as an insult. Someone on Twitter called Bryant out on that during Sunday’s interaction, and Bryant jumped to point out how that experience informed his opinion:

Steven Madrigal @onepercentofone
@kobebryant @Pookeo9 Come on Kobe...you called a ref a FAGGOT. Don't preach, just win.

Kobe Bryant ✔ @kobebryant

@onepercentofone @pookeo9 exactly! That wasn't cool and was ignorant on my part. I own it and learn from it and expect the same from others
1:12 AM - 11 Feb 13

http://thinkprogress.org/lgbt/2013/02/11/1571091/nba-star-calls-out-homophobia-on-twitter/

[Dawgs]

1. This is the same guy that got away with raping a girl because he's rich and can play basketball.

I'll find my role models somewhere else.