OT: Former Penn State and current Raider DE Carl Nassib comes out as gay
The first active NFL player to do so. He comes out via video on Instagram.
Kudos to him. A brave thing to do even today.
Definitely brave when considering the culture around the NFL.
I have to say, I have a cousin-in-law about 2 months ago tell us he had a very important topic he needed to discuss with the family. Before our discussion with him, we had no clue what it was about, so we naturally thought bad things (like he was dying of cancer or something like that). So we were all worried.
Well, what he wanted to discuss with the family was that he was coming out as gay. His mom (my aunt) says, “is that it?!, I thought it was something bad!!” The reaction from her son was interesting to say the least, but it points out that we’ve come a long way, and looking forward to continued progress on this topic.
I am willing to bet that many already knew this and that there is a bit more acceptance in locker rooms for those who are gay than you think. Being a good teammate trumps one's sexuality and I'd like to think those who play at the highest level understand that.
Yeah, I feel like they did a survey of NFL guys a couple years ago and a decent number of them said they knew or assumed they had played with teammates who were gay and it didn't bother them one bit. It's heartening that even in the last 10 years people have just become more accepting of people's sexuality.
About 15-20 years ago I had a friend that I guess got nervous telling me was gay and said something like "One thing about me is a lot of people assume things and one of those things they don't assume is that I'm not gay, which I am" and promptly walked out the door.
I had no fucking clue what he actually said, sat there dumbfounded for ten seconds and finally just started laughing.
What I thought was interesting is that when my cousin-in-law came out, he was a little upset that his mom (and everyone else for that matter) didn’t make a big deal about it. I think he was expecting everyone to react with more fanfare and drama. It definitely took some preparation and time for him to work up the courage to tell people, so I get it I guess. We were just glad he wasn’t dying of cancer or something similar.
.It seems like we have reached or should have reached a point in society where this shouldn’t be news.
I’m really not sure I know anyone that cares one way or the other.
"Should have reached" would be the more accurate of the two, IMO
It does show how much progress we have made. 8 years ago a 19 year veteran who played minimal minutes for a decade in the NBA in Jason Collins was the top story for weeks.
Right. This will probably be a story for a day - and that's it. Progress has been made.
There's a lot of doom-sayers in the world, but I do believe that the world is a better place today than it was 10 years ago. And I also believe it will be an ever better place in 2031.
Unfortunately, plenty of people are still very hostile to LGBTQ issues.
It sure seems to me like those that promote bigotry are the ones heading for the closet.
Also Frank Clark arrested for having an Uzi in a duffle bag. Interesting day in the NFL.
What an idiot. Dude was in CA with strict gun control laws. One being that UZIs are illegal along with the vast majority of fire arms. CA DOJ lists what guns one can legally own. He should be taught a lesson and get jail time.
Good for him.
Lots of respect for him coming out and sounds like he has support from this family and teammates. Hopefully this helps make other guys comfortable to come out if they want to.
Good for Carl and I love that he coupled coming out with a 100k donation to The Trevor Project, a suicide prevention service for LGBTQ youth. It would be even better to see his teammates, others in the league and the Raiders to match that donation, in a show of support and solidarity.
That is brave. We've come a long way in a short time on this front, but it still takes guts to be the first active player to come out.
A lot of respect for him for going public for sure...Hopefully, his faith in the inherent good in most people's hearts will be affirmed.
I can’t wait for the day that this isn’t newsworthy. I mean that as no disrespect to him whatsoever. It was a very courageous thing for him to do.
I’m just saying I’m looking forward to one day waking up in a world where he doesn’t have to be. Where making a statement like this is as ordinary as saying you like potato chips. Sadly it may never be, and that’s a damn shame.
jesus hates potato chips.
Jesus is a Pringles man.
I can only assume this is because Jesus has never tried real potato chips. I don't know how he could have so many followers with backward views like this.
That's really cool. Been a fan of his since Hard Knocks. Seems like a really good dude with infectious positive energy.
Also happy to see nothing but positive messages here for him. This blog makes me proud sometimes. Made the mistake of looking at twitter before I came here and I guess I shouldn't have been surprised, but holy shit what a cesspool of absolute scumbags. There are a lot of awful people in this world, and events/announcements like this bring them all out.
10.1.1Great for him - he has played well and is not looking for anything but respect for being the person he is and a great PSU style player.
Good for him. Hope the NFL reaction is different than it was for Michael Sam
Nuts to think that Michael Sam's announcement was 7 years ago. Now, I don't know if him coming out had anything to do with his lack of career...but the fact that it took 7 more years for someone else to come out...says somethin' 'bout somethin'. A message was clearly received by players. We've come a long way.
Is this issue need to be announced Everytime?
Is You speaking the eNglish?
I am glad that this gentleman doesn't feel compelled to hide this aspect of his life anymore. As far as I'm concerned, everyone should be free to love whomever they want, as long as it is legal and consensual. I think most people believe the same thing these days.
If an NHLer comes out he better be ready to drop the gloves and keep his head on a swivel.
NHL? If a tree falls in the woods and no one is there to hear it, does it make a sound?
Thank God,
The FIRST ACTIVE NFL player to do so.... way over due.
Good for you Nassib and best of luck!
Glad this guy can come out. NFL locker rooms have not been kind to gay players in the past.
That's a bold statement. Is it pure speculation or based on some type of first-hand knowledge? I have to imagine there have been gay players in NFL locker rooms for decades and I can't recall a single story of harassment come out. I'm certainly not saying that there wasn't harassment, but I think stories of over-the-top harassment would have made their way into the public domain, at some point. My general perception of locker rooms (of any type) is that the players are waaaay more concerned with things that impact the game, than things that don't.