Basketball star Reggie Bullock gets LGBTQ tattoo in support of his sister
(Gregory Shamus/Getty)
NBA star Reggie Bullock has revealed that he got a tattoo to pay tribute to his transgender sister Mia Henderson, who was killed in 2014.
In a meeting with GLAAD and Athlete Ally, the Detroit Pistons player rolled up his trousers to show advocates that the acronym “LGBTQ” was permanently etched on his calf.
Below that is Mia’s name, above the dates of her birth and death.
(Detroit Pistons/twitter)
A man who was charged with her murder in 2015 was acquitted in January.
Bullock has been vocal in his support for the LGBT community, suggesting on Twitter on April 22 that players could wear rainbow-coloured tops to advocate for equality.
“Just woke up out a dream and thought about playing in a colored jersey to incorporate #LGBTQ into sports,” he wrote.
(Gregory Shamus/Getty)
The star added: “@nba help me make it happen in my lifetime .”
He also wore shoes during a game earlier this year with the word “Equality” written on them multiple times and his Mia’s name on the soles.
Bullock is currently working with GLAAD to become a spokesperson for equality in the game.
(Kevin C. Cox/Getty)
Earlier this year, the Pistons player opened up abbout his sister, saying: “She was very close to me. To have to lose someone so close like that – it was tough for me to swallow.
“But,” he continued, “now I stand up for the LGBT community; I support them. It’s my right for me to stand up for my sister, that’s the life she choose to live.”
Bullock went on to criticise publications who initially identified Mia as simply his sister, and stressed the importance of saying her name.
(Gregory Shamus/Getty)
“The thing that hurt me the most is that they didn’t put her name first,” he said.
“It was ‘Reggie Bullock’s sibling’ – that’s just crazy to me. That is a sibling of mine, but the whole message of support should have been around her.
“I had to talk about it publicly but the focus should have been on her,” added Bullock.
(Abbie Parr/Getty)
The basketball star went on to speak about his own acceptance of his sister’s trans identity, saying: “I had to educate myself but having a sibling that was part of the LGBT community meant that I learnt.
“I always got the message from my sister that she was happy to live her life.
“I can tell a person is strong if a person can hear this hatred and still be happy in their life.”
