EL SEGUNDO, Calif.–Kobe Bryant and four of his Los Angeles Laker teammates called for understanding, compassion and acceptance in a public service announcement released today.
The release of the public service announcement comes six days after Bryant was fined $100,000 by the NBA for using an obscene antigay slur aimed at a referee during a game last Tuesday.
The Lakers and the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation announced on Friday they would work together to eliminate antigay slurs.
The announcement begins with Bryant saying, “There are all kinds of different people in the world. That’s what makes the world special. So whether someone is different than you”; “In race,” forward Lamar Odom said; “Ethnicity,” center Pau Gasol said; “Political beliefs,” guard Shannon Brown said;
“Religion,” said forward Ron Artest; “Or sexual orientation, words could be hurtful,” Bryant said.
“Replace them with understand, compassion and acceptance. Let’s make this a better world for all of us.” “Because we’re all in this together,” all five players said.
