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NFL player Carl Nassib paves the way for LGBTQ+ representation in football

Before Carl Nassib, there was no openly gay player in a regular-season NFL game.

NFL player Carl Nassib paves the way for LGBTQ+ representation in football

Before Carl Nassib, there was no openly gay player in a regular-season NFL game.

want to take *** quick moment to say that I'm gay, I've been meaning to do this for *** while now, but I finally feel comfortable enough to get it off my chest Raiders. Defensive lineman Carl Nassib became the first active NFL player to come out as *** gay man last year during Pride month. Nassib described it as *** moment of gratitude and relief sharing the news with the world and his fans on Instagram. However, writing sadly, I have agonized over this moment for the last 15 years. I just think that representation and visibility are so important. Um I actually hope that one day videos like this and the coming out process are just not necessary before Nassib, not once had there been an openly gay player in *** regular season. NFL game. Michael Sam came close to him in 2014 before being drafted by the Rams, the defensive lineman came out as gay. However, Sam never got the opportunity to play in *** regular season game. Many men have come out after their careers have ended going back to the seventies. Not only did David Copei inspire *** new generation of players, but he also paved the way for other gay athletes in male dominated sports. With Nassib coming out as an active NFL player, there's *** change in the air and athletes of all orientations are taking notice sophomore Jamie Lash was on the men's soccer team at UVM while he doesn't identify as *** member of the LGBTQ community. He understands the team environment, has the potential to create an unsafe space for those who do, There's *** stigma around it, like it's definitely *** scary thing because, you know, there's obviously people who don't accept it on the continuum of sort of what it means to be masculine in this, in this society. We're talking about somebody who's really breaking down norms and saying this is who I am, and I'm also *** great athlete. I'm gonna do my best and do my part to cultivate *** culture that's accepting and compassionate. And I'm gonna start by donating $100,000 for the Trevor Project. The Trevor Project is *** nonprofit organization that focuses on suicide prevention efforts among lesbian gay bisexual transgender queer and questioning youth when we have somebody in *** public figure um such as this that's able to step forward um and and provide that role model of of confidence and acceptance in oneself. That's *** win for everybody. Okay. Mhm. Oh. Mhm.
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NFL player Carl Nassib paves the way for LGBTQ+ representation in football

Before Carl Nassib, there was no openly gay player in a regular-season NFL game.

Project CommUNITY is an ongoing initiative across Hearst Television to put a spotlight on diverse voices in our communities. The initiative is built around regular coverage of people who are working to make a difference and stories detailing the history of the battle for Civil Rights, inclusion and social change across America.Raiders defensive lineman Carl Nassib became the first active NFL player to come out as a gay man in 2021 during Pride Month.Nassib described sharing the news with the world and his fans on Instagram as "a moment of gratitude and relief." However, he wrote, "Sadly, I have agonized over this moment for the last 15 years.” Before Nassib, not once had there been an openly gay player in a regular-season NFL game. Micheal Sam came close. In 2014, before being drafted by the Rams, the defensive lineman came out as gay. However, Sam never got the opportunity to play in a regular-season game. Many men have come out after their careers ended. Going back to the '70s, not only did David Kopay inspire a new generation of players, but he also paved the way for other gay athletes in male-dominated sports. With Nassib coming out as an active NFL player, there’s a change in the air — and athletes of all orientations are taking notice.“I just think that representation and visibility are so important. I actually hope that ... one day, videos like this in the whole coming out process are just not necessary,” Nassib said.In this episode of Clarified, we explore the impact of Nassib coming out on the NFL and sports communities across the country as well as those who paved the way before Nassib. Throughout Pride Month, Clarified will explore the experiences and impact of LGBTQ people.

Project CommUNITY is an ongoing initiative across Hearst Television to put a spotlight on diverse voices in our communities. The initiative is built around regular coverage of people who are working to make a difference and stories detailing the history of the battle for Civil Rights, inclusion and social change across America.

Raiders defensive lineman Carl Nassib became the first active NFL player to come out as a gay man in 2021 during Pride Month.

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Nassib described sharing the news with the world and his fans on Instagram as "a moment of gratitude and relief." However, he wrote, "Sadly, I have agonized over this moment for the last 15 years.”

Before Nassib, not once had there been an openly gay player in a regular-season NFL game.

Micheal Sam came close. In 2014, before being drafted by the Rams, the defensive lineman came out as gay. However, Sam never got the opportunity to play in a regular-season game.

Many men have come out after their careers ended. Going back to the '70s, not only did David Kopay inspire a new generation of players, but he also paved the way for other gay athletes in male-dominated sports.

With Nassib coming out as an active NFL player, there’s a change in the air — and athletes of all orientations are taking notice.

“I just think that representation and visibility are so important. I actually hope that ... one day, videos like this in the whole coming out process are just not necessary,” Nassib said.

In this episode of Clarified, we explore the impact of Nassib coming out on the NFL and sports communities across the country as well as those who paved the way before Nassib.


Throughout Pride Month, Clarified will explore the experiences and impact of LGBTQ people.