NBA Star Reggie Bullock Is Award Finalist for His LGBTQ+ Advocacy

Not only has Dallas Mavericks star Reggie Bullock helped his team reach the Western Conference Finals, but he's also working hard to make the Dallas area a safer, more inclusive place for LGBTQ+ people.

For his charitable work, guard-forward Bullock has been named a finalist for the 2022 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Social Justice Champion Award, which honors NBA players for their activism in fighting for social justice and equality, reports local TV station WFAA.

In a news release from the NBA, the organization stressed how hands-on the player has been in his activism.

"Bullock has focused on acceptance of all people by working to create truly inclusive communities through neighborhood engagement and national efforts around the LGBTQ movement, including participating in the NYC Pride March, the GLAAD Media Awards, and NBA events for LGBTQ youth and allies," the league wrote. "Most recently, as part of the Mavs Take ACTION! the initiative, Bullock participated in a courageous conversation as part of the HUDDLE series to uplift the Trans community, amplify community organizations who are working to support and protect LGBTQ individuals, and create opportunities for allyship."

Since joining the Mavs, he has worked with organizations including Abounding Prosperity, Dallas Southern Pride, House of Rebirth, The Black-Tie Dinner, the Resource Center, and the Muhlaysia Booker Foundation. The latter organization was founded in recognition of a trans woman who was murdered in Dallas, something that has particular resonance for Bullock, whose own activism was inspired by the murder of his trans sister, Mia Henderson, in 2014.

In a session titled Voices Unheard, Uplifting Trans Perspectives that was released on this year's National Day of Trans Visibility, March 31, Bullock joined Stephanie Houston, Founder of the Muhlashia Booker Foundation, and Leslie McMurray, Transgender Education & Advocacy Associate. He shared memories of his sister Mia and how her passing motivated him to use his platform as an NBA player to fight for equal rights and visibility for the LGBTQ+ community.

Bullock has also started his own charitable organization, RemarkaBULL, which has the mission of providing housing and support to members of the LGBTQ+ community who find themselves in need. Through RemarkaBULL, Bullock wrote an open letter to the NCAA protesting Idaho's House Bill 500, which "barred transgender females from competing in interscholastic sports for girls and women at public schools and state colleges and universities" and was ultimately signed into law by the state's governor, Brad Little, in March of 2020.

Bullock was named a finalist alongside the Milwaukee Bucks' Jrue Holiday, Memphis Grizzlies' Jaren Jackson Jr., Minnesota Timberwolves' Karl-Anthony Towns, and Toronto Raptors' Fred VanVleet. The winner will be announced during the Western Conference Finals, which begin this week. The winner gets $100,000 donated to the charity of their choice, and the rest of the finalists receive $25,000 donations for their organizations. Bullock's charity of choice is Kinston Teens, which empowers young people to engage in activism and community development.