Carl Nassib becomes first ever active NFL star to come out as gay

NFL star Carl Nassib on Tuesday (AEST) became the first active NFL player to come out as gay.

Las Vegas Raiders defensive end posted a video message on Instagram, saying: “What’s up people. I’m at my house in West Chester, Pennsylvania. I just wanted to take a quick moment to say that I’m gay. I’ve been meaning to do this for a while now but finally feel comfortable getting it off my chest. I really have the best life, the best family, friends and job a guy can ask for.

Kayo is throwing open the doors to an epic amount of free live sport & shows on Kayo Freebies this June. No Credit Card. No Brainer. Register Free Now >

“I’m a pretty private person so I hope you guys know that I’m not doing this for attention. I just think that representation and visibility are so important. I actually hope that one day, videos like this and the whole coming out process are not necessary, but until then I will do my best and my part to cultivate a culture that’s accepting and compassionate and I’m going to start by donating $100,000 to the Trevor Project. They’re an incredible organisation, they’re the number one suicide-prevention service for LGBTQ youth in America.”

Nassib was a third-round pick in the 2016 NFL Draft, taken No. 65 overall by the Cleveland Browns out of Penn State.

He also played for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers before signing a three-year, $AUD33 million deal with Las Vegas in 2020.

In 2014, former University of Missouri star Michael Sam became the first openly gay player to be drafted into the NFL. He never appeared in an NFL game and retired a year later due to what he described as mental health reasons.

Nassib’s brother Ryan, a former NFL quarterback, was drafted by the Giants in 2013 and was with the team for four seasons.

Carl Nassib (right) is thankful for all the support he’s received from the football world (Photo by Jamie Sabau/Getty Images).Source:Getty Images

“Hey everyone, happy Pride Month,” Nassib wrote in a message posted along with the groundbreaking video. “Right now, I am in a moment of gratitude and relief. Sadly, I have agonised over this moment for the last 15 years.

“Only until recently, thanks to my family and friends, especially Connor, Cason, and Francis, did it seem possible for me to say publicly and proudly that I’m gay.

“I am also incredibly thankful for the NFL, my coaches, and fellow players for their support. I would not have been able to do this without them. From the jump, I was greeted with the utmost respect and acceptance.

“I truly love my life and cannot understand why I have been blessed with so much. I feel especially thankful to have had so much support when many who came before — and many even now — do not. I stand on the shoulders of giants, incredible people who have paved the way for me to have this opportunity.

“I do not know all the history behind out courageous LGBTQ community, but I am eager to learn and to help continue the fight for equality and acceptance.

“I hope everyone can understand that I am just one person. I am a lankly walk-on who is living his dream. I only have a small window to achieve greatness in my sports and I owe it to my team, coaches, and Raider fans to be completely locked in and at my best for the upcoming season.

“I’m a private person, so I’d ask the media to give me some space as I navigate this exciting time in my life. Please do not take it personally if I decline an interview or am unable to answer your questions.”

This story first appeared on the New York Post and was reproduced with permission

Source: Read Full Article