Jason Collins’ decision to come out as the first gay male athlete who is active in a major-league sport generated mostly cheers from league executives, players, and fans this week. But it remains to be seen how the move will affect the career of the 12-year veteran of the National Basketball Association, now a free agent. After all, he essentially came out at the office, and there aren’t as many rules protecting homosexual workers as you might think.
Carmelyn Malalis, who co-chairs Outten & Golden’s Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Workplace Rights Practice Group, notes that we don’t yet live in a perfect world. Discrimination against homosexuals is still prevalent in the U.S. And in most states there is no clear guidance for employers as to how to handle it in the workplace.
