Magic Johnson speaks proudly of gay son, Earvin Johnson III, seen in public with boyfriend (VIDEO)

Magic Johnson son, Earvin Johnson III (or EJ), 20, has for the first time been spotted in public holding hands with a boyfriend.

The NYU student, who had not previously made his sexuality public, was on the Sunset Strip in Los Angeles. 

The news met with the obvious approval of his famous father — full name Earvin "Magic" Johnson — who spent his pro basketball career with the LA Lakers.

Magis Johnson, 53, told TMZ:

"Cookie and I love EJ and support him in every way. We're very proud of him."

Johnson and wife Cookie have been married since 1991 and also have a daughter together, Elisa, 18.

Johnson also has a 21-year-old son, Andre, from a previous relationship.

The ex-basketballer revealed he had HIV in 1991. At the time, there were still only a handful of known HIV-positive heterosexuals in America, leading to speculation the basketball star was gay or bisexual, Australia's News.com.au wrote.

As such, Johnson has long been an ally of the LGBT community, telling Huffington Post Canada in 2011: 

"Homophobia is still an issue everywhere, but especially in the black community."

In a  recorded telephone message sent to California voters in 2008, he called for them to defeat Proposition 8, the same-sex marriage ban.

He said:

"This is Magic Johnson calling to ask you to join me and Barack Obama in opposing Proposition 8. Prop 8 singles out one group of Californians to be treated differently – including members of our family, our friends, and our coworkers. That is not what California is about. So this Tuesday, vote no on Proposition 8. It is unfair and wrong. Thanks." 

Stopped by TMZ as he headed into a club, EJ told TMZ he was "hoping and praying" for the Los Angeles Dodgers, which his father purchased last year.