NBA All-Star, TNT commentator, and LGBTQ+ ally Charles Barkley is going viral for comments he made at the 2022 American Century Championship golf tournament in Lake Tahoe. In a video which has blown up on TikTok, Barkley reaffirmed his support of the queer community—and shared a message for any homophobes or transphobes out there.
“I want to say this,” he began. “If you’re gay or transgender, I love you.” He then paused as the crowd cheered, before continuing: “Hey, and if anybody gives you shit, you tell them Charles said ‘fuck you!'”
Barkley has spoken openly before about how being an ally to the LGBTQ+ community and other marginalized groups is an extension of his lived experience as a Black man.
“I think anytime you’re Black, you’ve got to stand up for other people,” he said in a 2020 interview with Ellen DeGeneres. “Black people know what discrimination is like. If you’re in a position of power, you’ve got to always stand up against discrimination. I’ve been blessed.”
In 2017, he expressed his opposition to House Bill 2, aka the “bathroom bill” that was passed in North Carolina which prevents trans people from using public facilities such as restrooms which align with their gender identity. Barkley fully intended to abstain from playing in an NBA All-Star game due to be held in Charlotte.
“I hated the bathroom bill,” he said. “So I went to my boss and said, ‘Hey boss, I’m gonna sit out of the All-Star Game. I don’t want to to take away from the All-Star Game, but I’m gonna sit out the All-Star Game.'” His vocal protest actually led to the game being moved to New Orleans.
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