Because, now that he's out, people are going to travel and attack him? If not what was the point of mentioning that?

Also you seem to over state how much anti-gay violence actually happens. Not to say it doesn't happen, but to assume, infer, imply w/e that it's a risk is overblown imo.

Go Get It, imagine you walked into a random poker room with a dozen full tables and asked people to raise their hands if they support gay marriage. I think you'll see a huge discrepancy between the number of hands raised (which I would estimate would be close to zero in most rooms) and the number of people who in reality support (or perhaps more appropriately phrased don't oppose) gay marriage but are still worried about how they'll be perceived if they support anything gay. That's why threads like this are important. We have a long ways to go as a society. While it's true that supporting gay marriage is not synonymous with supporting homosexuality, I think you get the point.

Yeah, that's obvious now. Still, seems logical to try. People can change.

+1... not many have had the courage to do this... our community seems to be more homophobic than almost any other profession I can think of... Mad respect to Jason for doing this (and I don't even know him personally)...

Gay marriage is one thing. I agree that most in a card room would prolly take an anti gay marriage stance. But he didn't write the blog about gay marriage.

I posted this in the TWSS LGBT thread, which explains more clearly (because I quote a text) why discrimination and verbal attacks constitute a threat: http://forumserver.twoplustwo.com/sh...8&postcount=82

There's courage in coming out less in the risk of physical violence (although, again, this does happen, and while relatively rare it's more frequent then most people would think) and more in opening yourself up to the small daily slurs that some people think are fine to throw around.

Society in general is improving (slowly), but is still remarkable heterosexist. Identifying yourself as a belittled minority, especially one that you COULD hide, takes courage that many don't acknowledge or understand.

Go Get It what are you hoping to achieve by tarding up this thread?

Its so easy to talk like this when your not gay. Homophobia is insanely strong in the world today, in all society's. This makes some people have a very difficult time accepting themselves/coming out because it just isn't that easy. Mbn to live in your fairy tale world.

Besides you are missing the point of this thread. He is the first high profile male poker player to publicly come out as a gay person. What is wrong with congratulating him for it? Surely there is at least one other male well known gay poker pro out there.

Meh, to each his own. If he or others think it's a big deal it's certainly his or their right to think so. I happen to think it's not a huge deal that someone comes out in this day in age.

Much respect. Despite what ignorant posters say, it's definitely not easy and impossible to understand unless you're the one actually doing it.

I think I remember the video you're talking about and I think you're reading way too much into that.

Much respect for coming out dude, SERIOUSLY. I for one don't give a **** who u like to have sex with.

I have always supported a man's right to choose to be gay.

You seem to be quite ignorant. See my earlier post.

There are almost zero openly gay homosexual athletes currently. Isn't that unbelievable? As I stated before it shouldn't be a big deal at all, but it is. That's the society we still live in. You seem to be completely unaware of it.

+1000000.