It is the last week of LGBTQ Pride Month, and if you were expecting something big, yesterday you got it! Carl Paul Nassib, defensive end for the Las Vegas Raiders of the National Football League, announced via Instagram, that he is gay.
"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."
No big fanfare, just a simple social media statement. Most of the world has already seen it and I don't think I have ever seen such an outpouring of support.
Nassib further said "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. 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."
Representation and visibility are indeed important. NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said so too when he released a statement last night praising Nassib for "courageously sharing his truth." Goodell said in part "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.
Commissioner Goodell's words came just as I was thinking the same thing. It's too bad this is newsworthy. It's too bad announcements like Nassib's are so important. Until we achieve that full equality though, coming out is a big deal - a very big deal.
One more piece of news: Carl Nassib added a link on his Instagram page for The Trevor Project, an organization working to prevent suicide among LGBTQ+ youth, and said he will be donating $100,000 to them. A great organization. Check them out https://www.thetrevorproject.org/ Happy Pride!
After all these years, FINALLY a gay football player.
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