{"id":1935506,"date":"2026-05-14T14:21:25","date_gmt":"2026-05-14T11:21:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=1935506"},"modified":"2026-05-14T14:21:25","modified_gmt":"2026-05-14T11:21:25","slug":"charles-barkley-says-there-are-a-bunch-of-gay-players-in-pro-sports","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=1935506","title":{"rendered":"Charles Barkley Says There Are &#8216;A Bunch&#8217; Of Gay Players In Pro Sports"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>[analyse_image type=&#8221;featured&#8221; src=&#8221;https:\/\/imagez.tmz.com\/image\/f0\/16by9\/2026\/05\/14\/f0fa7faebfed4d52b023625a5147fd71_xl.png&#8221;]<\/p>\n<article class=\"article article--permalink \">\n<header class=\"article__header\">\n<h1 class=\"article__header--headline-title\">Charles Barkley Says There Are &#8216;A Bunch&#8217; Of Gay Players In Pro Sports<\/h1>\n<h2 class=\"article__header--headline-fragments\"><span class=\"article__header--hf1 text-uppercase h3\">Charles Barkley<\/span><span class=\"article__header--hf2 text-uppercase h1\">Sports Are Filled With Gay Players<\/span><span class=\"article__header--hf3 text-none h2\">&#8230; But We Live In &#8216;Homophobic Society&#8217;<\/span><\/h2>\n<div class=\"social-media-container\" role=\"region\">\n<ul class=\"social social--sm\">\n<li class=\"social-item\">\n<li class=\"social-item\">\n<li class=\"social-item\"><\/ul>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/preferences\/source?q=tmz.com\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"js-track-link\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"google-preferred-btn\" src=\"https:\/\/static.tmz.com\/tmz-web\/img\/article\/google-preferred-source.png\"><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"byline\">By <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tmz.com\/pages\/about\/\">TMZ Staff<\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"date-wrapper\">\n                                                                        Published <time class=\"published-datetime\" datetime=\"2026-05-14T07:21:25-07:00\"><br \/>\n                              May 14, 2026<br \/>\n                            7:21 AM PDT<\/time><\/div>\n<\/header>\n<div class=\"article__blocks clearfix\">\n<section id=\"cb-1e310c403bf62ceaaeb6efe8c11f292c\" class=\"canvas-block canvas-block-permalink canvas-video-block canvas-video-block-permalink canvas-video-block--default  canvas-block-is-first \">\n<div class=\"video-block\">\n<div class=\"ratio ratio-16x9\">\n<div id=\"video-player-468f3578-c069-40c4-ac69-9cb4aa76a38f-1790096792-image-holder\" class=\"ratio ratio-item video-block__image-holder\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"eager\" src=\"https:\/\/imagez.tmz.com\/image\/f5\/16by9\/2026\/05\/14\/f5d9b5865129438bb0567834796f2bd2_md.png\" alt=\"art_temp051426_inside_the_nba_KAL - Copy\" width=\"728\" height=\"410\" class=\"img-fluid\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<footer id=\"video-player-468f3578-c069-40c4-ac69-9cb4aa76a38f-1790096792-footer\" class=\"media-footer video-block__media-footer\"><span class=\"media-launch-text video-block__media-launch-text\">IT&#8217;S NO SECRET<\/span><\/footer>\n<div class=\"video-block__media-info\">\n<div class=\"video-block__media-permalink\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tmz.com\/watch\/inside-the-nba-charles-barkley-gay-nba-players-05-14-2026\/\">Video: Charles Barkley Says There Are &#8216;A Bunch&#8217; Of Gay Players In Pro Sports<\/a><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"media-credit video-block__media-credit\">NBA\/ESPN<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<section id=\"cb-eb064ac3b3d8697a292c7ec369f62889\" class=\"canvas-block canvas-block-permalink canvas-text-block canvas-text-block-permalink canvas-text-block--default  \" data-context='{\"section\":\"permalink\",\"name\":\"text_block\"}'>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tmz.com\/people\/charles-barkley\/\" rel=\"noreferrer\"><strong>Charles Barkley<\/strong><\/a> believes there are &#8220;a bunch&#8221; of gay athletes throughout all pro sports &#8230; but the reason they aren&#8217;t open about their sexuality is that even in 2026, society remains largely homophobic.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<section id=\"cb-da47b98830afcd92f860306c4caecc5f\" class=\"canvas-block canvas-block-permalink canvas-text-block canvas-text-block-permalink canvas-text-block--default  \" data-context='{\"section\":\"permalink\",\"name\":\"text_block\"}'>\n<p>The Chuckster shared his thoughts as the &#8220;Inside the NBA&#8221; crew remembered <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tmz.com\/people\/jason-collins\/\" rel=\"noreferrer\"><strong>Jason Collins<\/strong><\/a> on Wednesday &#8230; and while the 47-year-old coming out as the first active gay player in 2013 was a historic moment for the league, it&#8217;s clear he feels there&#8217;s more work to do.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<section id=\"cb-4a37f41c33f06be94ed99622b36f5071\" class=\"canvas-block canvas-block-permalink canvas-gallery-block canvas-gallery-block-permalink canvas-gallery-block--default  \">\n<div class=\"gallery-block\"><a id=\"gallery-link-42d209ec-1f17-4eed-9c11-cabbda31048c\" class=\"media-link gallery-block__link js-track-link js-click-gallery\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tmz.com\/photos\/2026\/05\/12\/remembering-jason-collins\/\" data-node-ref=\"tmz:gallery:42d209ec-1f17-4eed-9c11-cabbda31048c\" data-context='{\"name\":\"gallery-block\",\"section\":\"permalink\"}' data-container-ref=\"tmz:article:93a85c63-e329-4d3f-b271-25f5098b7d6e\" data-gallery-layout=\"list\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/imagez.tmz.com\/image\/5d\/4by3\/2026\/05\/12\/5d55fa523cdb48c9bbf646518df8f8c4_md.jpg\" alt=\"Remembering Jason Collins\" width=\"728\" height=\"546\" class=\"img-fluid gallery-block__img-fluid img-aspect-4by3\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"media-icon--overlay gallery-block__media-icon--overlay\"><span class=\"media-icon-label gallery-block__media-icon-label\">Launch Gallery<\/span><\/div>\n<footer class=\"media-footer gallery-block__media-footer\"><span class=\"media-launch-text gallery-block__media-launch-text\">Remembering Jason Collins<\/span><span class=\"media-cta gallery-block__media-cta\"><br \/>\n              Launch Gallery<br \/>\n              <\/span><\/footer>\n<p><span class=\"media-credit gallery-block__media-credit\">Getty<\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<section id=\"cb-8f66576136dbf760adf757d9a2d51528\" class=\"canvas-block canvas-block-permalink canvas-text-block canvas-text-block-permalink canvas-text-block--default  \" data-context='{\"section\":\"permalink\",\"name\":\"text_block\"}'>\n<p>As <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tmz.com\/people\/kenny-smith\/\" rel=\"noreferrer\"><strong>Kenny &#8220;The Jet&#8221; Smith<\/strong><\/a> said an announcement like that might not be as big of a deal in present day because of Collins&#8217; bravery &#8212; Barkley disagreed.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<section id=\"cb-f344df04ea4f82363eabb496ec926435\" class=\"canvas-block canvas-block-permalink canvas-text-block canvas-text-block-permalink canvas-text-block--default  \" data-context='{\"section\":\"permalink\",\"name\":\"text_block\"}'>\n<p>&#8220;If another guy did it, it would still be a big deal because we live in a homophobic society, and that&#8217;s unfortunate,&#8221; Chuck said.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<section id=\"cb-c00e02930153a244ae2ea4d5999c2c90\" class=\"canvas-block canvas-block-permalink canvas-image-block canvas-image-block-permalink canvas-image-block--default  \">\n<div class=\"image-block\"><a class=\"js-click-image js-track-link image-lightbox-preview\" data-node-ref=\"tmz:image-asset:image_jpg_20260512_31c5162e0bfd417397b730f51f447b09\" data-container-ref=\"tmz:article:93a85c63-e329-4d3f-b271-25f5098b7d6e\" data-context='{\"section\":\"permalink\",\"name\":\"image\"}'><\/p>\n<div class=\"img-wrapper\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/imagez.tmz.com\/image\/31\/4by3\/2026\/05\/12\/31c5162e0bfd417397b730f51f447b09_md.jpg\" alt=\"sub-jason-collins-getty-2\" width=\"728\" height=\"546\" class=\"img-fluid image-block__img-fluid img-aspect-auto\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"image-block__card-footer\"><span class=\"media-credit image-block__media-credit\">Getty<\/span><\/div>\n<p><\/a><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<section id=\"cb-3b74aad9384326c2acf42da857cda39b\" class=\"canvas-block canvas-block-permalink canvas-text-block canvas-text-block-permalink canvas-text-block--default  \" data-context='{\"section\":\"permalink\",\"name\":\"text_block\"}'>\n<p>&#8220;Anybody who think we ain&#8217;t got a bunch of gay players in all sports, they&#8217;re just stupid. But there is such animosity toward the gay community, and that&#8217;s what&#8217;s really unfortunate.&#8221;<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<section id=\"cb-e0cae8b55f5945504b74657b7a639ac2\" class=\"canvas-block canvas-block-permalink canvas-text-block canvas-text-block-permalink canvas-text-block--default  \" data-context='{\"section\":\"permalink\",\"name\":\"text_block\"}'>\n<p>Barkley, an outspoken advocate for the LGBTQIA+ community, said it&#8217;s the case for every pro sport &#8212; NFL, NBA, MLB and more &#8212; but they continue to stay silent &#8230; even 13 years after Collins broke barriers.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<section id=\"cb-c9b144c6ba8dfee1290f8de9cd8e8039\" class=\"canvas-block canvas-block-permalink canvas-text-block canvas-text-block-permalink canvas-text-block--default  canvas-block-is-last \" data-context='{\"section\":\"permalink\",\"name\":\"text_block\"}'>\n<p>Collins <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tmz.com\/2026\/05\/12\/jason-collins-dead\/\" rel=\"noreferrer\"><strong>passed away<\/strong><\/a> this week after a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tmz.com\/2025\/12\/11\/jason-collins-brain-cancer-stage-4-terminal\/\" rel=\"noreferrer\"><strong>battle<\/strong><\/a> with Glioblastoma, one of the deadliest forms of brain cancer.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"row\">\n<div class=\"col-12\">\n<ul class=\"social social--permalink\">\n<li class=\"social__item social__item--3items\"><a class=\"btn social__btn social__btn--facebook js-track-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tmz.com\/2026\/05\/14\/charles-barkley-claims-there-are-a-lot-of-gay-players-in-pro-sports\/\" data-node-ref=\"tmz:article:93a85c63-e329-4d3f-b271-25f5098b7d6e\" data-context='{\"section\":\"main\",\"name\":\"facebook-footer\",\"pos\":1}'><br \/>\n                Share<span class=\"social__hide-sm\"> on Facebook<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"social__item social__item--3items\"><a class=\"btn social__btn social__btn--x js-track-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tmz.com\/2026\/05\/14\/charles-barkley-claims-there-are-a-lot-of-gay-players-in-pro-sports\/\" data-node-ref=\"tmz:article:93a85c63-e329-4d3f-b271-25f5098b7d6e\" data-context='{\"section\":\"main\",\"name\":\"twitter-footer\",\"pos\":2}'><br \/>\n                Share<span class=\"social__hide-sm\"> on X<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"social__item social__item--3items\"><\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<section class=\"related-articles\">\n<header class=\"card-section-header related-articles__card-section-header\">\n<h3 class=\"card-section-title related-articles__card-section-title\">\n              Related articles<br \/>\n            <\/h3>\n<\/header>\n<div class=\"row related-articles__row\">\n<div class=\"col related-articles__col\">\n<article class=\"related-articles__card\"><a class=\"related-articles__card-link js-track-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tmz.com\/2026\/03\/30\/charles-barkley-alex-karaban-immigration-no-kings-protest-ice\/\" 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data-context='{\"section\":\"main\",\"name\":\"tag-cloud\",\"pos\":1}'><br \/>\n                Jason Collins<br \/>\n              <\/a><a class=\"tag-cloud__list-group-item js-track-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tmz.com\/people\/kenny-smith\/\" data-context='{\"section\":\"main\",\"name\":\"tag-cloud\",\"pos\":2}'><br \/>\n                Kenny Smith<br \/>\n              <\/a><a class=\"tag-cloud__list-group-item js-track-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tmz.com\/people\/charles-barkley\/\" data-context='{\"section\":\"main\",\"name\":\"tag-cloud\",\"pos\":3}'><br \/>\n                Charles Barkley<br \/>\n              <\/a><a class=\"tag-cloud__list-group-item js-track-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tmz.com\/categories\/sports\/\" data-context='{\"section\":\"main\",\"name\":\"tag-cloud\",\"pos\":4}'><br \/>\n                Sports<br \/>\n              <\/a><a class=\"tag-cloud__list-group-item js-track-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tmz.com\/categories\/boston-celtics\/\" data-context='{\"section\":\"main\",\"name\":\"tag-cloud\",\"pos\":5}'><br \/>\n                Boston Celtics<br \/>\n              <\/a><a class=\"tag-cloud__list-group-item js-track-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tmz.com\/categories\/lgbt\/\" data-context='{\"section\":\"main\",\"name\":\"tag-cloud\",\"pos\":6}'><br \/>\n                LGBT<br \/>\n              <\/a><a class=\"tag-cloud__list-group-item js-track-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tmz.com\/categories\/tmzsports\/\" data-context='{\"section\":\"main\",\"name\":\"tag-cloud\",\"pos\":7}'><br \/>\n                TMZ Sports<br \/>\n              <\/a><a class=\"tag-cloud__list-group-item js-track-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tmz.com\/categories\/nba\/\" data-context='{\"section\":\"main\",\"name\":\"tag-cloud\",\"pos\":8}'><br \/>\n                NBA<br \/>\n              <\/a><\/ul>\n<\/section>\n<\/article>\n<p>[analyse_source url=&#8221;https:\/\/www.tmz.com\/2026\/05\/14\/charles-barkley-claims-there-are-a-lot-of-gay-players-in-pro-sports\/&#8221;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>[analyse_image type=&#8221;featured&#8221; src=&#8221;https:\/\/imagez.tmz.com\/image\/f0\/16by9\/2026\/05\/14\/f0fa7faebfed4d52b023625a5147fd71_xl.png&#8221;] Charles Barkley Says There Are &#8216;A Bunch&#8217; Of Gay Players In Pro Sports Charles BarkleySports Are Filled With Gay Players&#8230; But We Live In &#8216;Homophobic Society&#8217; By TMZ Staff Published May 14, 2026 7:21 AM PDT IT&#8217;S NO SECRET Video: Charles Barkley Says There Are &#8216;A Bunch&#8217; Of Gay Players In Pro [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[226,77],"class_list":["post-1935506","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-politics","tag-crawlmanager","tag-tmz-com"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1935506","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1935506"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1935506\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1935506"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1935506"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1935506"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}