Jason Collins, the NBA's first openly
gay player, has been appointed to serve on President Barack Obama's
Council on Fitness, Sports and Nutrition, the White House announced
on Thursday.
Obama also tapped Food Network
personality Rachel Ray, former NBA player Alonzo Mourning, ballet
dancer Misty Copeland and Democratic staffer Robert Shepardson to
serve on the council.
“I am grateful that these impressive
individuals have chosen to dedicate their talents to serving the
American people at this important time for our country,” Obama said
in a statement. “I look forward to working with them in the months
and years ahead.”
Also on Thursday, Time Magazine
named Collins, who came out gay in a Sports Illustrated
cover story last year, to its list of “100 Most Influential People
in the World,” placing his image on several regional covers.
“One goal that I have attained in my
life that I'm very proud of is to have a positive impact on someone
else's life,” Collins
told Time. “Hopefully my actions will make it easier for them
to live their life, to be whoever they want to be.”