Oprah to interview first openly gay NBA player Jason Collins and his family

Updated May 3, 2013, 12:42pm CT

In an expanded, 90-minute episode of Oprah’s Next Chapter, premiering Sunday, May 5, at 7:30pm ET/PT on OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network, Oprah Winfrey will be speaking with NBA player Jason Collins, his twin brother Jarron and their family for their first interview together on the heels of Jason Collins’ public announcement this week as the first openly gay active pro athlete in a major American team sport.

In Oprah’s Next Chapter, Jason Collins reflects on the worldwide reaction following his decision to reveal that he is a gay man, and how he hopes that his story will further the conversation around equality. Oprah and Jason Collins are joined by Jason’s twin brother, former NBA player Jarron Collins; his parents Portia and Paul Collins; his sister-in-law Elsa Collins; and aunt Teri Jackson, a San Francisco Superior Court judge and the first family member to whom Jason came out.

Excerpt from the Oprah interview with Jason Collins’ parents, who explain their reaction upon learning that their son is gay:

Oprah: So was there a releasing of the dream for you, of the idea that you’d had for your son, of who he would be walking down the aisle with?

Paul Collins: Yes, yes it was. I think any parent would have that for a child. Especially since you didn’t know the child was gay. You know, you have these things: He’ll eventually get married, he’s waiting for the end of his career to do that — and you just expect that that’s going to happen — he’ll have children and whatever that might be. And then you have to… you change from that.

Oprah: Did you change immediately?

Portia Collins: Well, part of the process after he told us was to go home and kind of let it resonate, for the two of us to talk about it. And on the way home we called him, and on the way home we said we love you. And still, like Paul said, you’re going through a lot of different checklists. Did you see this? Did you think this? No.

Oprah Winfrey interviews Jason Collins, his twin brother Jarron and their family on Oprah’s Next Chapter, premiering May 5 at 7:30pm ET/PT on OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network.

First Look: The Day NBA Player Jason Collins Came Out to His Parents

For decades, NBA player Jason Collins struggled with his sexuality and hid his truth from those he loved most, even his twin brother and his parents, Portia and Paul Collins. Now, Portia and Paul open up about the day their son told them he was gay. Watch as they describe the acceptance process they went through in the days after his admission.

Tune in Sunday, May 5, at 7:30/6:30c.

______________________

(L-R): Teri Jackson (aunt), Paul Collins (father), Portia Collins (mother), Oprah Winfrey, Jason Collins, Jarron Collins (twin brother), Elsa Collins (Jason’s sister-in-law) — Credit: Chuck Hodes/OWN Communications

3 Comments

  1. He did not choose to have love taken away from him, he chose to allow himself to love even if it does not fit the definition of love that some people attempt to force on others. @pauline

  2. I don’t see the good in his coming out, its very sad that people expect compassion for the life they choose to live. The choice to love was never taken away from him, he made the choice.

Comments are closed.