NFL Announces ‘Football Is Gay’ in Show of Support for LGBTQ+ Community – menshealth.com

The LGBTQ+ community gained an ally that many believed to be unlikely given their history of silence on the issue: the NFL. Sporting a new logo with the Pride colors embedded in the background, the league released a video aimed at inclusion entitled Football Is for Everyone.

This year’s Pride Month saw a world of progression in football. Carl Nassib, defensive end for L.A. Raiders, announced that he is gay, becoming the first active NFL player to do so. Though it was no easy task, he received widespread support from his peers.

“I would not have been able to do this without [the NFL, my coaches, and fellow players],” Nassib said. “From the jump, I was greeted with the utmost respect and acceptance.”

He used the groundbreaking occasion to donate $100,000 to (and partner with) The Trevor Project, the world’s largest suicide prevention and crisis intervention organization for LGBTQ+ youth. Roger Goodell and the NFL accepted Nassib’s call for others to join the effort, leading to the league’s new outreach video.

Also in partnership with The Trevor Project, the NFL’s new video sends a clear message to the queer community that they should always feel welcome in the sport as fans and as players. Using their platform to make it clear where the league stands, the video states that “Football is gay” in the very first line.

“It’s imperative that we use our voice and leverage the NFL platform to drive positive change,” said Tim Ellis, chief marketing officer of the NFL. “That includes supporting what our players care about and what they stand for.”

It’s an important milestone for the LGBTQ+ community to receive open support from the NFL. For some, the support may feel ironic, as the league has historically seemed like a home for toxic masculinity and not a safe-space for gay athletes. It is exciting to see what will happen now that doors have been opened in professional football in a way we haven’t witnessed before.

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