Tim Hardaway’s Latest Assist

You know how some television shows do a “where are they now” segment on forgotten celebrities? This column will be in a similar vein. While researching this article, I came across a name from the past that I couldn’t resist writing about.

Remember Tim Hardaway? He is the former NBA All-Star who made a fool of himself back in 2007 by going on a radio program and declaring that he hated gay people. The firestorm of criticism he received effectively put an end to his post-retirement plans to work in the media and the NBA. He has been keeping a low profile since the incident.

So imagine my surprise to find out that he is co-sponsoring a fundraiser for The Trevor Project , a suicide prevention group for gay youth!

When asked about his involvement, Hardaway was quoted as saying “Gays and lesbians, we don’t have to accept the act, but we have to accept them as people. Especially children, we don’t want them to kill themselves.”

The cynic in me wants to doubt his motives for doing the fundraiser, but in the end I think Hardaway deserves praise for stepping up and addressing this issue. The suicides of Jaheem Herrera and Carl Joseph Walker-Hoover earlier this year are proof that anti-gay bullying has a devastating impact on children who are gay or perceived as such.

While it may be premature to call Tim Hardaway a staunch advocate for gay rights, I think his evolution from a rabid homophobe to someone who acknowledges the humanity of gay people is an example of the positive role public embarrassment can have on one’s perspective.

That is why it is important to call homophobes out and challenge their beliefs. If they are willing to be honest, many find that their anti-gay feelings don’t make much sense.