Reggie Bullock knows what it's like to deal with sadness and losses. 2014 and 2019 were landmark years for the current Dallas Mavericks player. He lost two sisters in five years and had to deal with the pain of the facts.
More than losing his two sisters, Bullock engaged in a struggle in which one of them fought and died fighting for: prejudice against LGBTs.
Mia Henderson was 26 years old in 2014 when she was stabbed to death in Baltimore, USA. Bullock was in his second season in the NBA after being picked by the Los Angeles Clippers the year before.
Mia was actually Kevin Long. Transsexual, Mia fought for her rights and the thousands of others who struggle daily against hatred and prejudice. She was killed for being what she always wanted to be. The suspect in the death was arrested, but released less than three years later, which sparked fury in Bullock's family.
After years of inconsistencies in the NBA and stints with the Los Angeles Clippers, Phoenix Suns, Los Angeles Lakers and New York Knicks, Bullock had another blow. In 2019, another sister of his, Keiosha Moore was murdered at the age of 22. The player went into depression and even wrote messages like this on social media.
“I failed as a brother by not protecting you from the danger of these streets. I’ve lost my two queens.”
Since the deaths, Bullock has been one of the most active NBA players in the fight against prejudice. He coaches young gay and transgender people along with Jason Collins, a former athlete and first NBA player, to come out as openly homosexual.
In addition, he is one of the forerunners of NBA Voices for LGBT Youth and Allies, which helps LGBT people live their normal lives with psychological support.
In a documentary produced by Vice Sports, Bullock tells his sister's story and gives everyone a message:
“There is love in everyone's heart and you have to try to learn about a community before you demean it and become prejudiced.
