Gay History Month: John Amaechi
John Amaechi is the first openly-gay NBA player.
He was born in Boston in 1978.
He played basketball for Vanderbilt University and Penn State University in the 1990s. He was a two-time All American selection while in Penn State.
Amaechi began his career in professional basketball in 1995 with the Cleveland Cavaliers. A year later, he traveled to Europe and played in France, Italy and Greece for three years before returning to America to play for the Orlando Magic in 1999. Amaechi left the Magic in 2001 to play for the Utah Jazz. He retired in 2003.
Amaechi publicly came out as gay in 2007. He appeared on LOGO Television’s reality-based program Shirts and Skins in 2008.
