Charles Barkley Reminds Us That Pro Sports Still Have Not Fully Embraced Queer Athletes

For decades, professional sports have projected a version of masculinity built on toughness. A version that equates strength with being straight. However, Charles Barkley has no issue with saying the quiet part out loud, and that’s just what he did this past week on Inside The NBA.

​During Wednesday night’s episode, the NBA Hall of Famer reflected on the death of former NBA player Jason Collins, who The Root previously reported died Tuesday (May 12) at age 47 after battling brain cancer.

​While discussing Collins’ impact with his fellow analysts, Barkley used the moment to speak candidly about the reality that queer athletes still face in professional sports, admitting that we still live in a “homophobic society.”

​The comments came while the panel reflected on Collins becoming the first openly gay active NBA player in 2013 – a moment that was widely celebrated, but that also exposed just how uncomfortable many fans and sports figures still are with LGBTQ visibility in professional athletics, a fact Barkley called “unfortunate.”

“Anybody who thinks we ain’t got a bunch of gay players in all sports, they’re just stupid,” he added.

​The bluntness isn’t surprising coming from the Alabama native, who has consistently shown a willingness to defend the queer community even when doing so isn’t necessarily popular in sports spaces.

​As conversations around inclusion continue to evolve across leagues like the NBA, NFL, and MLB, the veteran sports analyst made it clear he believes many athletes are still forced to hide parts of themselves because of lingering stigma.

​“There is such animosity toward the gay community, and that’s what’s really unfortunate,” he added.​ “But if you think there are not more gay players in the NFL, Major League Baseball, and the NBA, you’re just stupid.”​

Barkley has consistently shown his support for the LGBTQ community. ​Back in 2022, during the American Century Celebrity Golf Championship in Lake Tahoe, the 63-year-old went viral after offering an unapologetic message of solidarity while speaking on stage.

​“I want to say this – if you’re gay, or transgender, I love you,” he began. ​“And if anybody gives you sh*t, you tell them Charles says ‘f*ck you!’”