A video in which 11-time NBA All-Star Charles Barkley proudly declared his loyalty and affection for the LGBTQ+ community has gone viral.
During an appearance at Harveys Lake Tahoe hotel and casino located in Stateline, Nevada, the 59-year-old told the attending crowd, “If you’re gay or transgender, I love you.”
In the same breath, he demonstrated having no patience for bigotry and yelled, “And if anyone gives you any sh*t, tell ’em Charles says f'k you!"
His slam dunk statement was met with raucous cheers and applause.
Crank up the volume.
\u201c\u201cIf you\u2019re gay or transgender, I love you. And if anyone gives you any shit, tell em Charles says f*ck you!\u201d - Charles Barkley \u201d— Ned Balme (@Ned Balme) 1657925688
The clip was originally posted by TikTok user I. banana earlier this month and later blew up on Twitter.
Many users lauded their ally for his unwavering solidarity with LGBTQ+ people.
\u201c@NedBalmeLives So here for this!\u201d— Ned Balme (@Ned Balme) 1657925688
\u201c@NedBalmeLives Absolute legend\u201d— Ned Balme (@Ned Balme) 1657925688
\u201c@NedBalmeLives\u201d— Ned Balme (@Ned Balme) 1657925688
\u201c@NedBalmeLives It's the things like this that set certain stars above all the rest. This means so much to so many people. JFC \u2665\ufe0f\ud83d\ude2d\u201d— Ned Balme (@Ned Balme) 1657925688
\u201c@NedBalmeLives @JDCocchiarella Yes Sir Charles!\u201d— Ned Balme (@Ned Balme) 1657925688
\u201c@NedBalmeLives Luv it Chuck!! Keep that shit up bruh! We all in this together \ud83d\ude0a\u201d— Ned Balme (@Ned Balme) 1657925688
Barkley has long been a supporter of marginalized people.
In 2016, he spoke out against North Carolina’s bathroom bill, a.k.a. House Bill 2–which would have prevented transgender people from using the restroom consistent with their gender identity.
He even called for the relocation of the NBA's 2017 All-Star Game from Charlotte, North Carolina.
\u201c@NedBalmeLives it\u2019s so odd to see people saying that he\u2019s \u201cpushing an agenda.\u201d since when did accepting and loving people become a political agenda? shouldn\u2019t we always strive for acceptance and love?\u201d— Ned Balme (@Ned Balme) 1657925688
As an advocate of LGBTQ+ equality, Barkley said in a 2006 interview on Fox Sports:
"I'm a big advocate of gay marriage. If they want to get married, God bless them."
\u201c@NedBalmeLives This man is a national treasure\u201d— Ned Balme (@Ned Balme) 1657925688
\u201c@NedBalmeLives Thanks to Charles for standing up for human love and compassion, you're a good man!\u201d— Ned Balme (@Ned Balme) 1657925688
Two years later on CNN, he told Wolf Blitzer about his thoughts on conservative Evangelical Christians.
"Every time I hear the word 'conservative,' it makes me sick to my stomach, because they're really just fake Christians, as I call them."
"That's all they are. ... I think they want to be judge and jury. Like, I'm for gay marriage. It's none of my business if gay people want to get married."
"I think these Christians, first of all, they're not supposed to judge other people. But they're the most hypocritical judge of people we have in the country."
"And it bugs the hell out of me. They act like they're Christians. They're not forgiving at all."