With a statement to Yahoo Sports on Sunday night, veteran NBA referee Bill Kennedy became the league's first openly gay male official. Kennedy's announcement came three days after Sacramento Kings guard Rajon Rondo was suspended for allegedly using an anti-gay slur against Kennedy in a Dec. 3 game.
"I am proud to be an NBA referee and I am proud to be a gay man," Kennedy said in a statement. "I am following in the footsteps of others who have self-identified in the hopes that will send a message to young men and women in sports that you must allow no one to make you feel ashamed of who you are."
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