Las Vegas Raiders player Carl Nassib made American football history by becoming the first NFL player to reveal his homosexuality on Monday, in the midst of pride month in the United States.
“I just wanted to take a moment to say I’m gay,” he said in a video shot from a sunny garden and posted on Instagram. “I’ve been thinking about doing this for a while, but I finally feel comfortable enough to take the weight off my shoulders.”
The 28-year-old defensive end is the first active player on a professional American Football League team to come out. Several players made their own after retiring from the sport, the most watched in the United States. In 2014, a university championship player, Michael Sam, was selected by the St. Louis Rams, the NFL team in Los Angeles, after revealing his homosexuality. But he had been released from his contract after playing a few preseason games and never appeared in regular season games in the NFL.
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Carl Nassib has already played five NFL seasons and joined the Raiders after passing through two other teams, the Cleveland Browns and the Tampa Buccaneers. His contract in Las Vegas runs until 2022.
“I will do my best to develop a culture of tolerance and compassion”
The young man said he hoped his example would make other gay athletes more visible. “I’m a rather private person so I hope you understand I’m not doing this to attract attention.” I just believe that the representation and visibility (of the LGBTQ community) is so important, ”he said.
“Besides, I hope that one day videos like this and the whole coming out process are no longer necessary, but until then I will do my best to develop a culture of tolerance and compassion.” “, he added.
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In his video, Carl Nassib also announces donating $ 100,000 to The Trevor Project, an NGO for suicide prevention among young people from the LGBTQ community in the United States.
An announcement during “pride month”
Monday, the Raiders welcomed the approach of Carl Nassib, saying they are “proud” of their player on the same social network. League boss Roger Goodell imitated them in a statement: “The NFL family are proud of Carl, who bravely shared his truth today.”
“Well done,” also said Wade Davis II, who is one of the handful of former NFL players who have revealed their homosexuality after retirement.
The coming out of the defensive player from Las Vegas comes during the “month of pride”, which celebrates every year in June in the United States the rights of homosexual, lesbian, bisexual and transgender (LGBTQ) people. His speech contrasts with the political climate of the country, at a time when many republican American states have adopted measures limiting the rights of transgender people.
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In a written message accompanying his video, Carl Nassib confided in the “torments” endured “during the last 15 years”, until he manages to gather the courage to come out, thanks to the support of his relatives. “I really have the best life, the best family, the best friends and the best job a guy could dream of,” said the player. “Go Raiders.”
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