The homosexuality in professional basketball It has been an issue historically marked both by episodes of discrimination and homophobia and by growing efforts at inclusion within sport, both internationally and in different countries. For decades, the low visibility of openly homosexual players reflected the cultural barriers present in the sports field, where stigmas and social pressures persisted that made public expression of sexual orientation difficult.[1]However, since the beginning of the century xxi Various sports organizations, professional leagues, players’ associations and clubs have promoted policies to respect sexual diversity, anti-discrimination campaigns and inclusion programs, gradually contributing to a more open and tolerant environment for athletes of different sexual orientations.[2]
In accordance with the international protection and safeguarding policy adopted by the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) and in force since 2022, any form of discrimination is prohibited within the activities organized by the entity, including that based on sexual orientation, gender identity or other personal characteristics. These provisions seek to ensure that players, coaches, officials and other basketball participants develop in a safe, respectful and inclusive environment, forcing affiliated federations to adopt prevention, reporting and sanction measures against discriminatory conduct in professional basketball.[3]
Just entered the century xxisome professional basketball players began to publicly declare their sexual orientation, contributing to greater visibility of diversity within the sport. In 2007, former American National Basketball Association (NBA) player John Amaechi publicly announced that he was gay, becoming the first former player in the league to do so, having retired in 2003. His statement highlighted the social and professional pressures that active players have historically faced when considering revealing their sexual orientation in the field of professional basketball. In relation to this, former basketball player Shavlik Randolph said in an interview that although Amaechi’s sexual orientation does not affect him in playing with him, it could generate “a tense atmosphere in the dressing rooms.”[4]
At the managerial level, Rick Welts, president of the Golden State Warriors, publicly declared himself gay in 2011, being the first senior executive in American professional basketball to do so.[5]
In April 2013, Jason Collins came out as gay in an interview with Sports Illustrated, becoming the first active duty basketball player to do so.[6]
In March 2020, basketball player Sebastián Vega came out as gay through his social networks, being the first Argentine and South American basketball player to do so.[7]Later, he revealed the difficulties that gay male players have on the field, when terms like “faggot” are frequently used as insults.[8]
In June 2020, Daniel Arcos, a Chilean player, came out as gay and thus became the first publicly gay Chilean professional basketball player.[9]
In January 2021, Swiss basketball player Marco Lehmann came out as gay, while denouncing the fear and stress that gay players live with.[10]
In January 2026, Australian basketball player Andrew Ogilvy came out as gay in an interview, where he revealed that many times he had to present himself professionally as heterosexual, hiding any sign of his true orientation.[11]
LGBT sports competitions
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Basketball is part of the sports program of international competitions aimed at sexual diversity, such as the Gay Games and the World Outgames, multi-sport events that promote the inclusive participation of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and heteroally allied athletes from different countries.[12]
Likewise, in various countries, sports leagues, associations and teams have been organized mainly made up of homosexual players, with the aim of promoting inclusive competition spaces free of discrimination. Among them, the National Gay Basketball Association (NGBA) in the United States stands out, an entity that coordinates teams from different cities, organizes national tournaments and encourages the participation of athletes of sexual diversity in competitive basketball.[13]
