Former NBA player and ESPN commentator Charles Barkley comments on the death of Jason Collins, the first openly gay active NBA player. Across multiple outlets, Barkley says the United States continues to function as a “homophobic society,” and argues that this social climate makes some gay athletes reluctant to come out publicly. He links the lack of openly gay players to what he describes as ongoing animosity toward the gay community, and he rejects the idea that there are not many gay athletes across elite sports. Barkley also credits Collins as an important figure in professional basketball and pays tribute to him following Collins’ death. The coverage describes Barkley’s remarks as a call to recognize that societal acceptance has not progressed enough to encourage more athletes to be open about their sexuality. Several reports frame his comments as reflecting the view that additional gay players exist but remain closeted, in part due to perceived social consequences.