First Openly Gay Active NFL Player

BlueAndWh1te

So Carl Nassib came out as gay yesterday. He's a Defensive End for the Las Vegas Raiders in the NFL.

He is the first ever active NFL player to come out. There have been a couple of players who have come out after they've retired or before they ever played a game in the league.

As a fan of a lot of sports, including American football, who is gay this makes me happy and I just wanted to see what everyone else thinks.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carl_Nassib

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/06/21/sports/football/carl-nassib-gay-nfl.html

NIMAN

Although its great, I think it only shows how many gay players are refusing to come out. Which is sad in this day and age.

I often think about how many professional soccer players must be gay too, but again the numbers who have come out is miniscule.

Society still has so far to go that this is still the case.

lottpaul

I'm very glad for him personally and for others that he may have a positive influence on.
It does remind us I suppose though of the number of professional sports people, especially soccer players, who haven't come out. Pure numbers would suggest that there have to be dozens/hundreds at all levels of the sport and it's sad that they can't be open about themselves, if they wanted to be.

...Ghost...

Why is it important? His sexual preference shouldn't matter at all. I genuinely don't get why it has to be "announced". If he scores the winning point of the league, that's an achievement. Is "coming out" as gay still considered a major thing? The article is behind a pay wall, so I couldn't see why there was a song and dance about it.

I suspect many don't announce their sexual preference to the world not from fear, but because it's their personal life and not every famous person wants the media/world to know every detail of their lives.

Breezer

...Ghost... wrote: »

Why is it important? His sexual preference shouldn't matter at all. I genuinely don't get why it has to be "announced". If he scores the winning point of the league, that's an achievement. Is "coming out" as gay still considered a major thing? The article is behind a pay wall, so I couldn't see why there was a song and dance about it.

I suspect many don't announce their sexual preference to the world not from fear, but because it's their personal life and not every famous person wants the media/world to know every detail of their lives.

It’s important for gay kids to feel they can be accepted in the world of sport. That they can participate in an activity that’s great for physical and mental health, and a great way of making friends and learning about teamwork, without the fear of macho culture and being ridiculed.

It made a difference to me when Gareth Thomas and Dónal Óg Cusack came out. We need more sports people to do so.

Annasopra

...Ghost... wrote: »

Why is it important? His sexual preference shouldn't matter at all. I genuinely don't get why it has to be "announced". If he scores the winning point of the league, that's an achievement. Is "coming out" as gay still considered a major thing? The article is behind a pay wall, so I couldn't see why there was a song and dance about it.

I suspect many don't announce their sexual preference to the world not from fear, but because it's their personal life and not every famous person wants the media/world to know every detail of their lives.

Theres no real evidence for your suspicions though but there is lots of evidence about fear