"Unconditional support is so key when someone first comes out. I hope that my actions will give the next person in future generations that continued hope and courage." Jason Collins

There has been a great deal of press recently about some professional athletes who came out publicly and said they were gay. When Jason Collins, the first openly gay professional Athlete came out last month, you could not turn on the television or radio without hearing the story. Most of the stories were extremely positive.

In the Sports Illustrated article where he came out Collins said,

"No one wants to live in fear. I've always been scared of saying the wrong thing. I don't sleep well. I never have. But each time I tell another person, I feel stronger and sleep a little more soundly. It takes an enormous amount of energy to guard such a big secret. I've endured years of misery and gone to enormous lengths to live a lie. I was certain that my world would fall apart if anyone knew. And yet when I acknowledged my sexuality I felt whole for the first time. I still had the same sense of humor, I still had the same mannerisms and my friends still had my back."

His words were perfect. For many students who are gay, they walk into school feeling the need to hide who they are for a variety of reasons.

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