SPORTS
Raiders Defensive End Carl Nassib Comes Out as Gay
Former Penn State standout becomes fi rst out active LGBTQ player in the league
BY MATT TRACY
Raiders defense end Carl
Nassib came out as gay
in an Instagram video
on June 21, becoming
the fi rst active NFL player to come
out.
“What’s up, people, I’m Carl
Nassib, I’m at my house here in
Westchester, Pennsylvania,” Nassib
said in the video. “I just wanted
to take a quick moment to say that
I’m gay. I’ve been meaning to do
this for awhile now, but I fi nally
feel comfortable enough to get it off
my chest. I really have the best life,
I got the best family, friends, and
job a guy could ask for. I’m a pretty
private person, so I hope you guys
know I’m not doing this for attention.”
He added, “I just think that representation
and visibility are so
important. I actually hope that
Carl Nassib came out as gay on June 21.
one day, videos like this and the
whole coming out process are just
not necessary, but until then I’m
going to do my best and do my
USA TODAY SPORTS/MARK J. REBILAS
part to cultivate a culture that’s
accepting, compassionate, and
I’m going to start by donating
$100,000 to the Trevor Project.
They’re an incredible organization;
they’re the number one suicide
preventions service to LGBTQ
youth in America…”
In a separate written statement,
Nassib said his family, friends,
teammates, and coaches have supported
him.
“I would not have been able to
do this without them,” he noted.
“From the jump, I was greeted
with the utmost respect and acceptance,”
Within hours, NFL commissioner
Roger Goodell issued a statement
in support of Nassib.
“The NFL family is proud of Carl
for courageously sharing his truth
today,” Goodell said. “Representation
matters. We share his hope
that someday soon, statements
like his will no longer be newsworthy
as we march toward full equal-
➤ NASSIB, continued on p.36
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