In 2021, Carl Nassib became the first active player in the NFL to publicly come out.

There has been only one player who has publicly come out as gay or bisexual while being an active player in the National Football League (NFL): Carl Nassib, who revealed himself as gay on June 21, 2021.[1] He later became the first openly gay player in an NFL playoff game on January 15, 2022.[2][3] Six former NFL players have come out publicly after they retired.[4] In the 2014 NFL draft, the St. Louis Rams drafted Michael Sam in the seventh round, the 249th of 256 players selected,[5] which made him the first openly gay player to be drafted into the NFL.[6][7] However, on August 30, St. Louis released Sam as part of a final round of cuts to reduce their roster to the league-mandated 53 players before the start of the regular season.[8][9] In 2015, he became the first publicly gay player to play in the Canadian Football League (CFL).

In college football, Division III player Conner Mertens came out as bisexual in January 2014, becoming the first active college football player at any level to publicly come out as bisexual or gay.[10][11] In August 2014, Arizona State player Chip Sarafin became the first publicly out active Division I player when he came out as gay.[12] In 2017, Scott Frantz publicly came out as gay, joining My-King Johnson as two of the first openly gay players in the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision.[13] Later that same year, Frantz became the first openly gay college football player to play in a game for an NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision school.[14] In 2018, Bradley Kim of the Air Force Academy came out as gay, thus becoming the first openly gay football player to play for any military academy in the United States; open homosexuality was forbidden in the U.S. Armed Forces until 2011.[15] Also in 2018, Division II Wyatt Pertuset of Capital University became the first openly gay college player to score a touchdown.[16][17] In 2022, Byron Perkins of Hampton University came out as gay, making him the first openly gay football player at any Historically Black College or University.[18][19]

Years earlier in women's football in 2001, Philadelphia Liberty Belles player Alissa Wykes of the National Women's Football Association (NWFA) came out publicly as lesbian.[20]

Reception

The generally masculine environment that exists in football, along with the hypermasculinity promoted by sportscasters, make it difficult for a player to come out.[21][22] Heterosexuality is flaunted in NFL locker rooms with the passing of pornographic magazines and videos, and visits to strip clubs.[23] Anti-gay slurs are sometimes used in the locker room.[24] Fear of backlash from employers, teammates and fans has stopped players from coming out.[25]

While Green Bay Packers head coach Vince Lombardi was known to treat his players roughly in practices and during games, he insisted on unconditional respect for gay players and front office staff.[26] Demanding "Nothing but Acceptance" from players and coaches toward all people, Lombardi would fire a coach or release a player should they insult the sexual orientation of anyone.[27] During his time in Washington, Lombardi's assistant general manager, David Slatterly, was gay, as was PR director Joe Blair, who was described as Lombardi's "right-hand man."[28] According to son Vince Lombardi Jr., "He saw everyone as equals, and I think having a gay brother (Hal) was a big factor in his approach...I think my father would've felt, 'I hope I've created an atmosphere in the locker room where this would not be an issue at all. And if you do have an issue, the problem will be yours because my locker room will tolerate nothing but acceptance.'" Upon his arrival in Washington, Lombardi was aware of tight end Jerry Smith's gay sexual orientation.[29] "Lombardi protected and loved Jerry", said former teammate Dave Kopay.[30] Lombardi brought Smith into his office and told him that his sexual orientation would never be an issue as long as he was coaching the Redskins; Smith would be judged solely on his on-the-field performance and contribution to the team's success.[31] Under Lombardi's leadership Smith flourished, becoming an integral part of Lombardi's offense, and was voted a First Team All-Pro for the first time in his career, which was also Lombardi's only season as Redskin head coach.[32] Lombardi invited other gay players to training camp, and would privately hope they would prove they could earn a spot on the team.[33] At the Washington Redskins training camp in 1969, Ray McDonald was a gay player, with sub-par skills,[34] who was trying to maintain his spot on the roster, [35] but this time with Lombardi as the Redskins' new head coach. True to his word, Lombardi told running back coach George Dickson,[36] "I want you to get on McDonald and work on him and work on him – and if I hear one of you people make reference to his manhood, you'll be out of here before your ass hits the ground."[37]

Before Super Bowl XLVII in 2013, San Francisco 49ers player Chris Culliver on media day during an interview with The Artie Lange Show, was asked if he thought any gay players were on his team which he replied "No, we don't got no gay people on the team, they gotta get up out of here if they do...Can't be with that sweet stuff." He also opined that any gay players should wait 10 years after retiring before coming out.[38] Culliver received backlash for his comments.[39] Baltimore Ravens player Brendon Ayanbadejo, an advocate for same-sex marriage, estimated that 50 percent of the league agreed with Culliver, 25 percent disagreed, and 25 percent were accepting of everyone even if they were not in complete support of issues such as gay marriage.[39][40] Culliver later apologized for his "ugly comments" that were "not what I feel in my heart".[41][42][43]

The NFL Collective Bargaining Agreement in 2011 contained added protections banning discrimination based on sexual orientation.[44] In 2013, the NFL Rookie Symposium planned for the first time to have speakers on the issue of sexual orientation.[45] The same year, NFL player Chris Kluwe was released by the Minnesota Vikings, which he believed was due to his being outspoken in support of same-sex marriage. He said that special teams coach Mike Priefer in 2012 made homophobic remarks and criticized the player for his views on same-sex marriage, a charge Priefer denied. Kluwe also alleged that head coach Leslie Frazier told him to stop speaking about same-sex marriage.[46] In December, former teammates on the 1993 Houston Oilers said that at least two key players on the roster were generally known by the team to be gay and that they were accepted by the team. Teammate Bubba McDowell said showering with the gay teammates was "no big deal".[47] In 2014, ESPN reported on Michael Sam's showering habits in the St. Louis Rams locker room, but later apologized that it "failed to meet the standards we have set in reporting on LGBT-related topics in sports."[48]

NFL player Ryan O'Callaghan came out publicly as gay in 2017; he came out to Kansas City Chiefs general manager Scott Pioli before his NFL career ended in 2011.[49] In 2019, O'Callaghan said "I think it's safe to say there's at least one on every team who is either gay or bisexual. A lot of guys still see it as potentially having a negative impact on their career."[50]

In June 2021, the NFL tweeted in support of the LGBTQ+ community by advocating for The Trevor Project[51] and matching player Carl Nassib's donation of $100,000 while linking the website for fans to donate as well. Following Nassib officially came out, Morning Consult conducted a survey gaging the likelihood of watching the NFL. The survey was concluded with the result of 1 out of 3 LGBTQ+ adults are more interested in watching the NFL following Nassib coming out.[52] This contributes to the general goal of the LGBTQ+ community of gaining more representation within sports so that more LGBTQ+ athletes feel comfortable to participate.[53]

Ahead of Super Bowl LVI, the NFL partnered with GLAAD made history by hosting an event where associates of the NFL were able to mingle with supporters and officials of GLAAD. “LGBTQ athletes need to see more stories of athletes like them, who are supported by their teammates, because so many of them are accepted, just as they are,” GLAAD Deputy President and COO Darra Gordon said in her remarks. “I hope young LGBTQ athletes see posts from tonight and know that they have a rightful place to be out in the NFL, in football, in sports, and at any cultural milestone they aim for.”[54]

Players coming out

Selected by the St. Louis Rams in 2014, Michael Sam was the first publicly gay player to be drafted into the NFL.

After NWFA player Alissa Wykes came out as lesbian in the December/January 2002 edition of Sports Illustrated for Women,[20] the league's owner Catherine Masters condemned her for pursuing her own "personal agenda", stating that the league had received "hundreds of phone calls. Gay people were saying it was horrible. Straight people were saying it was great."[55] In 2003, as a panel member at the first National Gay/Lesbian Athletics Conference in Cambridge, Massachusetts, Wykes joked that she felt "great empathy for the women on my team who are straight. I meana straight female football player?"[56]

Division II college football player Brian Sims came out as gay to his team in 2000 while playing for Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania,[57] and publicly told his story in 2009.[58] Alan Gendreau was openly gay to his Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders football team from 2008 through 2011, but the team made no mention of it to the media.[59] Otherwise, he could have been the first publicly out gay active player in Division I college football.[60] Outsports, a website specializing in LGBTQ people in sports, released his story about being a gay football player on April 23, 2013.[59][60] In January 2014, Conner Mertens of the Division III Willamette Bearcats publicly came out as bisexual, becoming the first active college football player at any level to publicly come out as bisexual.[61][62]

After he retired, NFL player David Kopay in 1975 was the first major professional team-sport athlete to come out as gay.[63][64] Before Carl Nassib's coming out, many experts believed that the first openly gay active NFL player would not be a current athlete, but instead an already out high school or college player who ends up in the NFL.[4][60] CBSSports.com reported in April 2013 that one NFL team had a player that was not openly gay, but his teammates were aware that he was gay and did not care.[65] That same month, Ayanbadejo said there were up to four NFL players who were considering coming out as gay on the same day with the hope that any backlash would be shared and the pressure on one person reduced.[66] NFL commissioner Roger Goodell emphasized that discrimination based on sexual orientation was unacceptable in the NFL. His statement came after players said they were asked during the NFL Scouting Combine if they liked girls.[67] In November 2018, former player Jeff Rohrer became the first known current or former NFL player to be in a same-sex marriage.[68]

In February 2014, Sam publicly came out as gay after his college career had ended, and he became the first publicly gay player drafted in the NFL when he was selected in the seventh round of the 2014 draft.[62][6] Six months later, Chip Sarafin came out as gay, becoming the first active Division I player to come out as gay.[69] The following season, another Division I offensive lineman, Mason Darrow of Princeton University, also came out as gay publicly.[70] In August 2015, Sam became the first publicly gay player to play in a CFL regular season game.[71]

In 2017, Scott Frantz publicly came out as gay, joining My-King Johnson as two of the first openly gay players in the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision.[13] Later that same year, Frantz became the first openly gay college football player to play in a game for an NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision school.[14]

In 2018, Bradley Kim of the Air Force Academy came out as gay, thus becoming the first openly gay football player to play for any military academy in the United States; open homosexuality was forbidden in the U.S. Armed Forces until 2012.[15]

In August 2019, free agent Ryan Russell came out publicly as bisexual in an essay he penned for ESPN.[72]

In June 2021, Raiders defensive end Carl Nassib came out as gay via Instagram. He announced a $100,000 donation to The Trevor Project as part of the post.[73] Nassib was entering his sixth NFL season and the second year of his three-year contract with the Las Vegas Raiders.[74] He became the first openly gay player to play in an NFL regular-season game.[75]

Players who came out
Name Highest level Position Ref
Mason Darrow NCAA Division I Offensive lineman [76]
Wade Davis NFL Cornerback [77]
Scott Frantz NCAA Division I Offensive tackle [78]
Ed Gallagher NCAA Division I Offensive tackle [79]
Alan Gendreau NCAA Division I Placekicker [80]
Kwame Harris NFL Offensive tackle [81]
Bradley Kim NCAA Division I Defensive back [15]
David Kopay NFL Running back [82]
Ray McDonald NFL Running back [83]
Conner Mertens NCAA Division III Placekicker [61]
Carl Nassib NFL Defensive end [84]
Ryan O'Callaghan NFL Offensive tackle [85]
Wyatt Pertuset NCAA Division III Wide receiver [16][17]
Jeff Rohrer NFL Linebacker [68]
Ryan Russell NFL Defensive end [72]
Michael Sam NFL§ / CFL Defensive end [71][86]
Chip Sarafin NCAA Division I Offensive lineman [69]
Roy Simmons NFL Guard [87]
Brian Sims NCAA Division II Defensive tackle [88]
Jerry Smith* NFL Tight end [89]
Brad Thorson NFL Offensive lineman [90]
Esera Tuaolo NFL Defensive tackle [91]
Colton Underwood NFL§ Tight end [92]
Jacob Van Ittersum NCAA Division II Offensive lineman [93]
Alissa Wykes NWFA Running back [20]
Theodore Lisoski AFBN Linebacker [94][95]

* Posthumously outed
Selected in the NFL Draft, never played in the league
Placed on injured reserve, never played in the league
§ Practice squad member, never played in the league

See also

References

  1. Middlehurst-Schwartz, Michael. "Raiders' Carl Nassib comes out as first openly gay active NFL player". USA TODAY. Retrieved 2021-06-21.
  2. "Carl Nassib becomes the first openly gay player to play in a NFL postseason game". GAY TIMES. January 16, 2022.
  3. "Carl Nassib Makes History: First Openly Gay Player To Play In NFL Postseason Game". January 16, 2022.
  4. 1 2 Zeigler, Cyd (April 23, 2013). "Coming out kicking: Openly gay former college kicker tries for the NFL". Outsports. Retrieved April 24, 2013.
  5. "Rams reportedly took Michael Sam in 2014 draft in deal with NFL". Las Vegas Review-Journal. 2016-03-24. Retrieved 2023-02-07.
  6. 1 2 Belson, Ken (May 10, 2014). "In Historic Pick, Rams Take Michael Sam in Final Round of Draft". The New York Times. Archived from the original on November 1, 2014.
  7. Carter, Chelsea J. (May 10, 2014). "Michael Sam makes history: First openly gay player drafted in the NFL". CNN. Retrieved May 10, 2014.
  8. Farmer, Sam (August 30, 2014). "Michael Sam, NFL's first openly gay player, is cut by St. Louis Rams". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on August 31, 2014.
  9. Wagoner, Nick (August 30, 2014). "Michael Sam cut by Rams". ESPN. Retrieved August 30, 2014.
  10. Corcoran, Tully (January 28, 2014). "'I'm bisexual': Kicker becomes first CFB player to publicly come out publicly". FoxSports.com. Archived from the original on March 2, 2014. Retrieved February 16, 2014.
  11. "College football player Conner Mertens comes out". Outsports. Retrieved 2018-06-15.
  12. Zeigler, Cyd (August 13, 2014). "Arizona State football offensive lineman Chip Sarafin comes out as gay". Outsports. Retrieved August 18, 2014.
  13. 1 2 "Scott Frantz of Kansas State Wildcats details telling teammates he is gay". Espn.com. 2017-07-13. Retrieved 2017-08-22.
  14. 1 2 Zeigler, Cyd (2017-09-04). "Big XII football team with openly gay player wins by 36 points. So much for distractions". Outsports. Retrieved 2017-09-08.
  15. 1 2 3 "Air Force defensive back Bradley Kim is first openly gay service academy player". Los Angeles Times. Associated Press. 28 July 2018. Retrieved 2018-07-29.
  16. 1 2 Buzinski, Jim (September 27, 2018). "Gay college football player now an Ohio high school coach". MSN.com.
  17. 1 2 Buzinski, Jim (August 29, 2019). "There are 7 openly gay or bi college football players this season". Outsports. Retrieved March 25, 2021.
  18. Selbe, Nick. "Hampton DB Becomes First HBCU Football Player to Come Out as Gay". Sports Illustrated.
  19. "Byron Perkins Makes History As First Out Football Player at HBCU". www.advocate.com. October 20, 2022.
  20. 1 2 3 DuLong, Jessica (19 February 2002). "Out in the field: pro footballer Alissa Wykes talks about breaking new ground for out lesbian athletes--and the flak she's gotten along the way". The Advocate. pp. 32–35. Retrieved 12 May 2021.
  21. Stockwell, Anne; McAuley, J. V. (December 24, 1996). "Tackling the NFL closet". The Advocate (723): 51–55. ISSN 0001-8996.
  22. Diaz, George (April 27, 2013). "Orlando gay kicker wants to put boot to NFL stereotypes". Orlando Sentinel. Archived from the original on June 1, 2013. Retrieved April 29, 2013.
  23. Morton, Danelle (June 10, 2013). "Out on the edge". ESPN The Magazine. Archived from the original on June 1, 2013.
  24. Covitz, Randy (November 2, 2009). "Gay athletes don't fit in what is perceived as a homophobic NFL". VictoriaAdvocate.com. Archived from the original on July 6, 2015. Retrieved April 29, 2013.
  25. Lutz, Tom (June 22, 2021). "'Proud of you': NFL players welcome Carl Nassib's decision to come out". The Guardian. Retrieved June 23, 2021.
  26. "Vince Lombardi Was Ahead of His Time". Acme Packing Company. 7 May 2013. Retrieved 16 May 2017.
  27. "Former Pro Football Player Reflects on Brokeback Romance with Teammate". gawker.com. Archived from the original on 23 January 2014. Retrieved 13 January 2022.
  28. "'The NFL Beat': Lombardi and Kopay". Retrieved 16 May 2017.
  29. "45 years ago, Lombardi accepted a gay player". Retrieved 16 May 2017.
  30. "Vince Lombardi accepted gay players on his team". 3 May 2013. Retrieved 16 May 2017.
  31. Bader, Jerry (February 12, 2014). "Would Vince Lombardi Gave Drafted a Gay Player". Right Wisconsin. Archived from the original on December 25, 2015. Retrieved June 8, 2023.
  32. "Jerry Smith Stats - Pro-Football-Reference.com". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 16 May 2017.
  33. Maraniss, David (1999). When Pride Still Mattered, A Life of Vince Lombardi. Simon & Schuster. p. 344. ISBN 978-0-618-90499-0. Retrieved 2016-06-11.
  34. Maraniss 1999, p. 469.
  35. Klemko, Robert. "What happened to Ray McDonald, Washington's first-round draft pick in 1967?". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved 2022-04-20.
  36. Maraniss 1999, p. 468.
  37. Maraniss 1999, p. 471.
  38. Rogers, Martin (April 18, 2012). "Report: Niners CB says openly gay players would not be welcomed on the team". yahoo.com. Retrieved January 30, 2013.
  39. 1 2 Burke, Chris (April 23, 2013). "Alan Gendreau trying to make NFL as openly gay kicker". SI.com. Archived from the original on April 25, 2013.
  40. Wetzel, Dan (January 31, 2013). "Chris Culliver's remarks, Manti Te'o episode make it hard for active gay athlete to go public". yahoo.com. Archived from the original on May 12, 2013.
  41. "Chris Culliver sorry for 'ugly' remarks". ESPN.com. January 31, 2013. Retrieved January 31, 2013.
  42. Wesseling, Chris (January 30, 2013). "Chris Culliver apologizes for anti-gay comments". National Football League. Retrieved January 30, 2013.
  43. Breech, John (January 30, 2013). "49ers' Chris Culliver: Openly gay player not welcome". CBSSports.com. Retrieved January 30, 2013.
  44. "NFL in New CBA Bans Discrimination Based On Sexual Orientation". Sports Business Daily. September 27, 2011. Archived from the original on March 23, 2018.
  45. McManus, Jane (June 19, 2013). "Rookies to hear about sexuality". ESPN.com. Archived from the original on June 19, 2013.
  46. Goessling, Ben (January 2, 2014). "Kluwe: Cut due to outspoken views". ESPN.com. Archived from the original on January 3, 2014.
  47. Smith, Brian T. (December 26, 2013). "Two members of 1993 Oilers were gay; teammates knew, didn't care". Houston Chronicle. Archived from the original on December 30, 2013.
  48. Curtis, Bryan (December 12, 2014). "The Kiss". Grantland. Archived from the original on December 13, 2014.
  49. Peter, Josh. "'Life's great now' for Ryan O'Callaghan, the ex-NFL player who came out as gay". USA TODAY. Retrieved 2021-06-22.
  50. Wakefield, Lily (August 28, 2019). "Every NFL team has gay or bisexual players, retired player claims". Pinknews. Retrieved 2019-08-30.
  51. NFL (June 28, 2021). "If you love this game, you are welcome here..." Twitter. Archived from the original on June 28, 2021. Retrieved June 8, 2023.
  52. "About 1 in 3 LGBTQ+ Adults Say They're More Likely to Watch the NFL Following Carl Nassib's Announcement That He Is Gay". Morning Consult. 2021-06-25. Retrieved 2022-04-20.
  53. "LGBT Inclusion in Sports". Center for American Progress. Retrieved 2022-04-20.
  54. Masters, Troy (2022-02-12). "The NFL embraces LGBTQ+ inclusion ahead of Super Bowl LVI". Los Angeles Blade: LGBTQ News, Rights, Politics, Entertainment. Retrieved 2022-04-20.
  55. Hipp, Deb (31 October 2002). "Dreams of Fields". The Pitch. Kansas City. Retrieved 3 May 2021.
  56. Garfield, Simon (4 May 2003). "Is anyone out there?". The Observer. Retrieved 8 May 2021.
  57. Zeigler Jr., Cyd (April 27, 2009). "Former college football captain was openly gay". Outsports.com. Archived from the original on January 15, 2013.
  58. Zeigler, Cyd (August 24, 2011). "Moment #43: Brian Sims tells his story nine years later". outsports.com. Archived from the original on December 17, 2013.
  59. 1 2 Watson, Graham (April 23, 2013). "Former Middle Tennessee kicker was openly gay with teammates, coaches". yahoo.com. Retrieved April 23, 2013.
  60. 1 2 3 Branch, John (April 23, 2013). "A Potential Pioneer, Just Looking for a Job". The New York Times. Retrieved April 24, 2013.
  61. 1 2 "Active college player comes out". ESPN.com. January 29, 2014. Archived from the original on January 31, 2014.
  62. 1 2 Connelly, Chris (February 9, 2014). "Mizzou's Michael Sam says he's gay". ESPN. Retrieved February 9, 2014.
  63. Garber, Greg (January 15, 1999). "Still waiting for a hero". ESPN.com. Archived from the original on June 18, 2013.
  64. Wise, Mike (April 27, 2013). "Dave Kopay knows what questions should be asked by NFL". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on May 3, 2013.
  65. Freeman, Mike (April 27, 2013). "Teammates, coaches knew of gay NFL player and didn't care". CBSSports.com. Archived from the original on April 18, 2013.
  66. "Advocate: Players may come out". ESPN.com. April 27, 2013. Archived from the original on April 6, 2013.
  67. Battista, Judy (April 24, 2013). "N.F.L. Will Advise Teams on Discrimination Policy". The New York Times. Archived from the original on May 14, 2013.
  68. 1 2 Mallozzi, Vincent M. (November 14, 2018). "Former Cowboys Linebacker Jeff Rohrer Is to Marry Partner". The New York Times. Retrieved 14 November 2018.
  69. 1 2 Fischer, Bryan (August 13, 2014). "Arizona State OL Chip Sarafin announces he's gay". National Football League. Retrieved August 13, 2014.
  70. Zeigler, Cyd (September 15, 2015). "One of the Guys". Outsports. Archived from the original on September 15, 2015. Retrieved June 8, 2023.
  71. 1 2 "Michael Sam is 1st openly gay man to play in CFL regular season game". cbc.ca. August 7, 2015. Archived from the original on August 8, 2015.
  72. 1 2 Russell, Ryan (August 29, 2019). "No distractions: An NFL veteran opens up on his sexuality". ESPN. Retrieved September 5, 2020.
  73. Belson, Ken (June 21, 2021). "Raiders' Carl Nassib Announces He's Gay, an N.F.L. First". The New York Times. Retrieved June 22, 2021.
  74. "NFL: Carl Nassib becomes first active player to come out as gay". BBC.com. June 22, 2021. Retrieved June 22, 2021.
  75. Smith, Michael David (September 14, 2021). "Carl Nassib becomes first openly gay player to play in NFL game". Pro Football Talk. Retrieved September 14, 2021.
  76. "One of the Guys". Outsports.com. SB Nation. September 15, 2015.
  77. "Wade Davis Talks about Being Gay: Former NFL player working with LGBTQ youth for the first time". Outsports. 5 June 2011. Archived from the original on 17 January 2013. Retrieved 3 May 2013.
  78. "Scott Frantz cherishes acceptance after informing teammates he's gay". ESPN. 13 July 2017.
  79. "Ed Gallagher, who turned suicide attempt to activism, dies". Outsports. 13 May 2005. Archived from the original on 17 February 2009. Retrieved 5 January 2012.
  80. Branch, John (April 23, 2013). "A Potential Pioneer, Just Looking for a Job". New York Times. Retrieved April 24, 2013.
  81. "Domestic charges for Kwame Harris". ESPN.com. Associated Press. January 29, 2013. Archived from the original on January 29, 2013.
  82. Garber, Greg (15 January 1999). "Still waiting for a hero". ESPN. Retrieved 6 January 2012.
  83. Kroeger, Brooke (2004). Passing: When People Can't Be Who They Are. New York: PublicAffairs. p. 238. ISBN 1-58648-287-4.
  84. "Raiders' Carl Nassib comes out as first openly gay active NFL player". USA Today. 21 June 2021. Retrieved June 21, 2021.
  85. "Former Patriots and Chiefs tackle Ryan O'Callaghan comes out as gay". Outsports. 20 June 2017. Retrieved 20 June 2017.
  86. Sessler, Marc (May 10, 2014). "Michael Sam drafted by St. Louis Rams at No. 249". NFL.com.
  87. Simmons, Roy; DiMarco, Damon; Fisher, David; Hester, Jimmy (2006). Out of Bounds: Coming Out of Sexual Abuse, Addiction, and My Life of Lies in the NFL Closet. Carroll & Graf Publishers. p. 222. ISBN 0-7867-1681-9.
  88. Zeigler, Jr., Cyd (27 April 2009). "Former college football captain was openly gay". Outsports. Archived from the original on 15 January 2013. Retrieved 14 January 2012.
  89. Provenzano, Jim (31 December 2003). "Who was the first gay football player to play in the Super Bowl?". Windy City Times. Retrieved 7 January 2012.
  90. "Brad Thorson, former college football player and NFL prospect, comes out as gay". Outsports. 7 July 2014.
  91. Tuaolo, Esera; Luke Cyphers (30 October 2002). "Free and Clear". ESPN the Magazine. Retrieved 7 January 2012.
  92. Wertheim, Bonnie (April 14, 2021). "Colton Underwood, 'Bachelor' Star, Comes Out as Gay". The New York Times. Retrieved June 22, 2021.
  93. Paul, Tony (August 7, 2018). "Northwood football player Jacob Van Ittersum comes out as bisexual". The Detroit News. Retrieved January 26, 2019.
  94. Lisoski, Theodore (August 6, 2021). "Theodore ramt muren American Football-wereld neer: "Sport is niet homo of hetero"". Retrieved September 19, 2021.
  95. "After never having played, gay man finds semi-pro football after Asperger's diagnosis". Outsports. 16 April 2015. Retrieved 23 October 2015.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.