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NFL declares that 'football is gay' in new video for Pride Day embracing Carl Nassib after the Las Vegas Raiders defensive end came out

  The National Football League has declared that 'football is gay' in a promotional video released on Pride Day, after   Las Vegas  ...

 The National Football League has declared that 'football is gay' in a promotional video released on Pride Day, after Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Carl Nassib became the league's first openly gay player. 

The video released on Monday shows simple white text against a black background, as snare drums play in the background and people are heard cheering as the text declares 'Football is gay.'

'Football is lesbian. Football is beautiful. Football is queer. Football is life. Football is exciting. Football is culture. Football is transgender. Football is heart. Football is power. Football is tough,' the video continues.


'Football is bisexual. Football is strong. Football is freedom. Football is American. Football is accepting. Football is everything. Football is for everyone,' the proclamation adds.


The NFL expressed support for Carl Nassib, who came out last week, with the league releasing a video for Pride Month declaring 'football is gay'

The NFL expressed support for Carl Nassib, who came out last week, with the league releasing a video for Pride Month declaring 'football is gay'


The video then shows the NFL logo and promotes the Trevor Project, a charity that focuses on preventing suicide among LGBTQ youth, which Nassib had supported with a donation in his coming out video.

'LGBTQ+ youth with at least one accepting adult have 40% lower risk of attempting suicide,' the message reads. 

Though other NFL players have come out after retirement, and some surely remained closeted for fear of backlash, Nassib became the first active player to come out earlier this month.

Describing himself as a 'private person' in his Instagram video, Nassib said one of his reasons for coming out publicly was because he thinks 'representation and visibility are so important.' 

The Raiders, the NFL, the NFL players union and some players around the league rushed to express support in messages praising Nassib. 

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, too, voiced his appreciation for Nassib's decision.

'The NFL family is proud of Carl for courageously sharing his truth today,' read a statement from Goodell. 'Representation matters. We share his hope that someday soon [statements] like his will no longer be newsworthy as we march toward full equality for the LGBTQ+ community.' 

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell is seen above. The league has been eager to express support for Nassib, the first openly gay active NFL player

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell is seen above. The league has been eager to express support for Nassib, the first openly gay active NFL player

The NFL declared that 'football is gay' in a promotional video released on Pride Day

The NFL declared that 'football is gay' in a promotional video released on Pride Day

The video was timed for release on Pride Day, which falls on Pride Week in Pride Month

The video was timed for release on Pride Day, which falls on Pride Week in Pride Month

The video declared that football is for everyone in a series of proclamations

The video declared that football is for everyone in a series of proclamations

The NFL shield logo was also displayed in the rainbow colors for Pride Month

The NFL shield logo was also displayed in the rainbow colors for Pride Month

Many fans have also been eager to support Nassib, a former Penn State walk-on who was drafted by the Cleveland Browns in the third round in 2016. 

Fanatics, a sports apparel website and NFL partner, announced that Nassib's No. 94 was its top-selling replica jersey last week in the hours after Nassib came out on Instagram. 

Specific sales figures were not revealed, but prices for Nassib replica jerseys range between around $120 and $370 on the Fanatics website. 

But not all fans expressed support for the NFL's new video, with many taking to the comments section on YouTube to express skepticism.

'They really just called their sport lesbian lmfao this can't be real I'm dying [right now]' one person wrote.

'When it said football is gay I laughed I can't lie,' another added.

'We have crossed beyond the absurd, beyond the surreal, and are now witnessing something out of Dante's Nine Circles,' one wrote.

'On a non-homophobic note football is NOT for everyone. Trust me,' commented another. 

Nassib made his announcement last week in a video on Instagram. 

'I actually hope that one day videos like this and the whole coming out process are just not necessary,' he said. 'Until then, I am going to do my best and do my part to cultivate a culture that is accepting and compassionate.' 


Three-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year JJ Watt congratulated Nassib, but said he's looking forward to a time when such announcements 'will no longer be considered breaking news'

Three-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year JJ Watt congratulated Nassib, but said he's looking forward to a time when such announcements 'will no longer be considered breaking news' 

Nassib is obviously not the NFL's first gay player. Several have come out publicly since retiring and others have remained closeted for fear of backlash.

For instance, former New York Giants and Washington Redskins linebacker Roy Simmons came out after leaving the NFL in 1983, telling the New York Times 20 years later that he waited to do so because he feared it would end his career. Simmons died in 2014 after being diagnosed with HIV in 1997.

'The NFL has a reputation,' Simmons said in 2003, 'and it's not even a verbal thing — it's just known. You are gladiators; you are male; you kick butt.'

Butch Woolfolk, a teammate of Simmons's in New York, said he played alongside other gay players with the Houston Oilers and Detroit Lions as well.

Warren Moon, the quarterback for those Oilers teams, appeared to confirm Woolfolk's claim while commending Nassib for being the first active NFL player to come out of the closet.

'Really proud of Carl Nassib,' Moon tweeted. 'The first active football player to ever do so. I played with several guys who never were comfortable enough to go public. They were great teammates, & obviously very talented.

NFL Free agent Ryan Russell came out as bisexual in 2019
Former Missouri defensive end and Southeastern Conference Defensive Player of the Year Michael Sam came out before he was taken by the Rams in the 2014 NFL Draft, but he ultimately did not make the team

NFL Free agent Ryan Russell (left) came out as bisexual in 2019. Former Missouri defensive end and Southeastern Conference Defensive Player of the Year Michael Sam (right) came out before he was taken by the Rams in the 2014 NFL Draft, but he did not make the team

'As long as they helped us win and were great teammates- their sexual preference was never a issue,' he continued in another tweet. 'We live in a different time now where diversity is much more accepted. Cheers Carl, and I hope this lets other athletes know, its (sic) OK to say who you are.'

Nassib was thanked on Twitter by Michael Sam, a former Southeastern Conference Defensive Player of the Year who came out before being drafted by the St. Louis Rams in 2014 but was cut before the season started. Not only did Sam appreciate Nassib's honesty, but also his $100,000 donation to the Trevor Project, which is aimed at preventing suicides among LGBTQ youth.

'Carl Nassib thank you for owning your truth and especially your donation to the @TrevorProject,' Sam wrote. 'LBGTQ people are more likely to commit suicide than heterosexuals. I hope and pray people will take note to this. Thank you again Carl and look forward to seeing you play on the field.'  

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