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Speaking with his panel of co-hosts, including Los Angeles Lakers icon Shaquille O’Neal, Barkley said there are other professional athletes in major sports leagues who are gay.

However, he explained that most of them won’t come out because of society’s “homophobic” mentality. “If another guy did it, it would still be a big deal because we live in a homophobic society,” he said. And that’s unfortunate. Anybody who thinks we ain’t got a bunch of gay players in all sports, they’re just stupid.”

According to Barkley, there’s still much “animosity” toward the LGBTQ+ community, but he said that the negativity won’t stop people from being gay. “But anybody that think him coming, I know a couple of other soccer players that came out, if you think there are not more gay players in the NFL, Major League Baseball and the NBA, you’re just stupid,” he said.

Charles Barkley Has Been A Vocal Ally For Years

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This isn’t the first time Barkley has shared his thoughts on the queer community. According to Them.Us, Barkley went viral in 2022 when he voiced his support for the transgender community.

“I want to say this: If you’re gay and transgender, I love you,” he said. “And if anybody gives you shit, you tell them Charles said ‘F-ck you!'”

Years before that, Barkley told CNN that he stood firmly against all forms of discrimination and bigotry. “… against whites, Hispanics, gays, lesbians, however you want to phrase it,” he said.

He went on to say that, as a public figure, it’s his responsibility to stand up for those who can’t do it themselves.

One NBA Player Said He ‘Hates’ Gay People

And while some may believe there isn’t homophobia lingering throughout professional sports, think again. BET reported in 2022 about retired athlete Tim Hardaway’s 2007 rant, in which he said he “hates” gay people.

“I don’t like gay people. I don’t like to be around gay people. I am homophobic. I don’t like it. It shouldn’t be in the world…or in the United States,” he said.

Years later, he apologized for his actions, saying his upbringing in the church influenced his comments. “I was just taught differently. Don’t talk to them, don’t mess with them, leave them alone. I never tried to talk bad about them or do hateful stuff. It was just my upbringing in church,” he said.

Continuing, Hardaway said he was “wrong” for what he said, acknowledging the pain queer people have endured. “I had to grow up and really do some soul-searching. What I said was just hurtful,” he added.

Social Media Users Are Praising Barkley For Continuing To Advocate For Gay Players

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On Reddit, users lauded Barkley for his kind words about gay athletes, with one calling him “such a good dude.”

Another user said Barkley deserves respect for speaking positively about the queer community as a Black man. “For as progressive as we want the system to be, there’s a huge demographic that is incredibly hypocritical,” they wrote.

Someone else added, “Chuck is the best thing to ever come out of Auburn University. Love the dude.”

RIP Collins.

The Charles Barkley Praised Following Comments About ‘Homophobic’ People first appeared on The Blast