Gay guys can jump

Don't really follow any sports except baseball and by follow baseball I mean, I check the standings regularly and cheer for my favorite teams. I don't know from stats and half the time I don't remember the players names. So I have no idea who this guy is or which team he plays for but the internets tell me Jason Collins did a brave thing:

I'm a 34-year-old NBA center. I'm black. And I'm gay. — I didn't set out to be the first openly gay athlete playing in a major American team sport. But since I am, I'm happy to start the conversation.

I'm told he's the first major team sport player to admit it. My only reaction is, (and not to diminish his courage in any way), think it's rather sad that in 2013, this is still such a big deal.