NFL
By: Zachary Draves
When the news broke that Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Carl Nassib became the first active NFL player to come out as gay, I immediately starting playing Cyndi Lauper’s True Colors.
“But I see your true colors
Shining through
I see your true colors
And that’s why I love you
So don’t be afraid to let them show
Your true colors
True colors are beautiful
Like a rainbow”
A classic LGBTQ+ anthem that spoke about affirmation and support.
That spirit encapsulates Carl’s announcement perfectly because him coming out was about so much more than him being able to live out his truth.
It was about LGBTQ+ youth having someone in sports they can look up to and instilling confidence to show their true colors.
As a result, Carl announced that he would be donating $100,000 to the Trevor Project, a suicide prevention and crisis intervention hotline for LGBTQ+ youth.
Las Vegas Raiders DE Carl Nassib comes out as gay
He also announced a $100K donation to the Trevor Project, a suicide prevention organization for LGBTQ youth. pic.twitter.com/5Xobd9s0pp
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) June 21, 2021
“This guy coming out is not about the fans or other players, it is about that 13-year-old kid on JV who is struggling” said Cyd Zeigler, founder of OutSports.
“That kid is going to see how accepting this guy is.”
This moment matters a great deal because we are talking about the NFL which is without question the most premier professional sports league in the US if not the national pastime by default.
We are talking about a sport that values a certain type of masculinity rooted in hyper toughness and aggression leaving little to no room for any alternatives.
Carl Nassib coming out is showing what it means for men to be able to live in a world without constraints on what manhood is supposed to be and that being tough and strong is not limited to the gridiron because being who you are in this magnitude epitomizes toughness and strength.
The support coming from across the league including a statement put out by NFL commissioner Roger Goodell is proof of how far we have come in the pursuit of equality while also being able to recognize that we still have so much more to do particularly at a time when states have introduced over 250 anti-LGBTQ+ bills.
Cyd Zeigler correctly foresees that the fans will go above and beyond to show their love.
“The support you are going to see is going to be huge” he said.
“Jersey sales will be selling like crazy.”
Carl Nassib is now part of history and stands on the shoulders of fellow trailblazers including David Kopay, Esera Tuaolo, Wade Davis II, Kwame Harris, Michael Sam, Ryan Russell, and Ryan O’Callaghan.
That’s what pride is all about.
If you are a young person in crisis, feeling suicidal, or in need of a safe and judgment-free place to talk, call the TrevorLifeline now at 1-866-488-7386
