Veteran NBA referee Bill Kennedy revealed he is gay Sunday just days after Sacramento Kings guard Rajon Rondo’s received a one-game suspension for an expletive-filled rant against Kennedy that included several gay slurs.
“I am proud to be an NBA referee and I am proud to be a gay man,” Kennedy told Yahoo Sports 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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The NBA suspended Rondo one game without pay for “directing a derogatory and offensive term towards a game official and not leaving the court in a timely manner upon his ejection.” The incident occurred during the third quarter of Sacramento’s 114-97 loss to the Boston Celtics on Dec. 3 in Mexico City.
Yahoo Sports cites details on the NBA’s investigation provided by the National Basketball Referee’s Association general counsel Lee Seham. Kennedy and fellow referee Ben Taylor alleged that during Rondo’s post-ejection rant he made the statement: “You’re a mother—— f—–. … You’re a f—— f—–, Billy.”
Officials Billy Kennedy, Ben Taylor and Bennie Adams all confirmed the reports in interviews conducted by NBA investigators on Dec. 4, according to Yahoo.
NBA commissioner Adam Silver said in a statement provided to Global News that he “wholeheartedly support Bill’s decision to live his life proudly and openly.”
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“Throughout his 18-year career with the league, Bill has excelled as a referee because of his passion, dedication and courage,” Silver said. “Those qualities will continue to serve him well both as a game official and as a positive influence for others. While our league has made great progress, our work continues to ensure that everyone is treated with respect and dignity.”
On Monday Rondo tweeted that his words that day were out of frustration and not a reflection of his feelings toward the LGBT community.
This is not the first time an NBA player has been suspended for using homophobic language. In 2011, Chicago Bulls centre Joakim Noah was fined $50,000 during the playoffs for making a slur towards a fan who was heckling him, and Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant was fined $100,000 for using an anti-gay slur toward a referee that same year.
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