DESPITE NOT HAVING A TEAM JASON COLLINS COUNTS HIS BLESSINGS

This is the first fall in more than a decade that Jason C0llins has not been on the roster of an NBA team.

But no need to feel sorry for him.

'Whatever your situation you try to have a positive outlook on so everything is a blessing. I couldn't be happier and more content with being able to live an authentic and genuine life,' Collins told Gay Star News over the weekend.

'Life is good.'

Collins made headlines last spring when after finishing the season with the Washington Wizards, Collins came out publicly as a gay man in a Sports Illustrated cover story. He soon got a call from President Obama and appeared on TV with Oprah Winfrey.

But no NBA team called with an offer to play.

Collins is keeping in shape in the hopes a team will still need a back-up center. He's also become involved in the LGBTI community and on Saturday (9 November) he was honored with the LA Gay & Lesbian Center's National Vanguard Award.

He described himself as ‘extremely humbled’ by the award and ‘amazed and awed’ by the services The Center provides – especially its services for homeless LGBT youth.

‘The Center is here to support and care about the entire community – anyone with a heartbeat and a need,' he said in a brief but emotional speech.

'There’s nothing more powerful than when someone is seen, heard and accepted for being who they truly are. I lived for 33 years not having shown my true self with anyone – I thought I’d have to go to the grave with it. Not in my wildest dreams did I think my life would transform.’

Before taking the stage, Collins told GSN it was exciting to be getting his award on the same week that Illinois and Hawaii approved gay marriage and the US Senate passed the Employment Non-Discrimination Act.

'Progress is being made and it's encouraging more and more people to live their true and authentic life and know they will be supported by the entire country,' he said. 'When you do come forward not only will you have the support of your community but also your government.'

At Saturday's Gay & Lesbian Center gala in downtown Los Angeles, Collins was the center of attention and surrounded by such celebrities as Lance Bass and the cast of the Netflix hit show Orange is the New Black.

While support from other gays and from well-known straight allies is not surprise, Collins said when he first went public about being gay, one of the people he got support from was retired NBA player Tim Hardaway.

In 2007, Hardaway said 'I hate gay people' when discussing the coming out of former NBA pro John Amaechi.

'He called me early on and was extremely supportive and happy for me.,' Collins said. 'I have to admit I wasn't expecting that but it shows that people's perceptions can change over time. He was in a different place. It's really cool to see that progress is being made on an individual level, social level, government level.'

And yet the homophobia in pro sports persists with just last month former NFL pro Dexter Manley using an anti-gay slur to describe retired Dallas Cowboys quarterback Troy Aikman.

'There are still people in this country who will say things about skin color so it will never truly go away,' Collins said of bigotry. 'But overall, progress if being made.'

'There are still people in this country who will say things about skin color so it will never truly go away but overall, progress if being made.'

SOURCE: GAY STAR NEWS