Billie Jean King: ‘Fight For Equality And Inclusion For Everyone’, Boston's NPR 90.9 WBUR, 5/10/14

Karen Given, Boston's NPR 90.9 WBUR; Billie Jean King: ‘Fight For Equality And Inclusion For Everyone’:

"KG: What about closer to home? Jason Collins debuted in the NBA this year. Michael Sam might be drafted in the NFL this weekend. Why has it taken so long for these milestones to happen?

BJK: Because we’ve been scared, and we want to be accepted when we finally come out. And you have to remember the chemistry in a locker room is very fragile. It just is. It’s a sensitive place. It’s where people are together. They’re under stress. They want to win. There’s a certain culture that’s been created around it. And for men it’s the macho culture. That’s the epitome especially [in] football.

It’s very important that the straight athletes support the gays because they have the power just in numbers. So we need straight quarterbacks for instance to come out and say “Get over it. They’re a team player. As long as they do their job. I don’t care how they live their life away from the football field.” And that’s the way it should be for everyone. One by one — it’s been a real grassroots movement, the LGBT movement. One by one coming out to your mom, your dad, to a friend. See you’ve got to feel safe. That’s the major thing. Accepted and safe. And if you don’t feel like you’re going to be safe, it’s very hard to come out."