Longtime NBA official Bill Kennedy revealed that he’s gay in a statement to Yahoo! Sports.
NBA referee Bill Kennedy comes out as gay
The longtime NBA referee came out 10 days after Kings point guard Rajon Rondo refused to leave the court and shouted homophobic slurs at him after being ejected.
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“I am proud to be an NBA referee and I am proud to be a gay man,” Kennedy told Yahoo! Sports’ Adrian Wojnarowski on Sunday night. “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.”
The revelation comes on the heels of the NBA's decision to suspend Sacramento Kings point guard Rajon Rondo one game for using a "derogatory and offensive term" toward Kennedy after being ejected during a Dec. 3 loss to the Celtics in Mexico City.
Rondo was assessed a technical foul by Kennedy in the third quarter of that Dec. 3 game. Afterward, he approached Kennedy and stared him down. Kennedy whistled Rondo for a second technical, which triggered an automatic ejection. Rondo failed to immediately leave the court and instead began screaming at Kennedy.
The NBA investigated the situation. Both Kennedy and fellow referee Ben Taylor informed the NBA via their official reports that Rondo used the word “f*****” while yelling at Kennedy, according to Yahoo! Sports.
Rondo reportedly denied these allegations to league officials. A spokesperson of his declined comment on Monday to Yahoo! Sports. Rondo also declined to speak to the media Monday, but did issue a statement on Twitter.
My actions during the game were out of frustration and emotion, period!
— Rajon Rondo (@RajonRondo) December 14, 2015 They absolutely do not reflect my feelings toward the LGBT community. I did not mean to offend or disrespect anyone.
— Rajon Rondo (@RajonRondo) December 14, 2015 Vlade says Rondo will issue statement to apologize, Kings do not support the slur, said it happened in heat of moment
— Jason Jones (@mr_jasonjones) December 14, 2015 Kings GM Vlade Divac said Rajon Rondo told him today, "He feels bad and didn't mean to offend anyone. It was in the heat of frustration."
— Marc J. Spears (@SpearsNBAYahoo) December 14, 2015 Correction: Vlade says he will reach out to Bill Kennedy, I said Vlade said Rondo would.
— Jason Jones (@mr_jasonjones) December 14, 2015 “I wholeheartedly support Bill’s decision to live his life proudly and openly,” NBA commissioner Adam Silver said in a statement to Yahoo! Sports. “Throughout his 18-year career with the league, Bill has excelled as a referee because of his passion, dedication and courage. 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.”
Kennedy is the only referee to ever work the NBA All-Star Game, an NBA Finals game and a bronze-medal Olympic game in the same calendar year. He's the second NBA referee to publicly announce being gay. Violet Palmer did so in 2014.
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