Carl Nassib: LGBTQ representation in the NFL

6/30/22

Raiders defensive end Carl Nassib is one of the few NFL players to come out as openly gay. Football is often characterized as a hypermasculine and therefore “straight” sport. However, Carl Nassib is breaking boundaries for a whole demographic of LGBTQ athletes. 

Nassib is one of the only 16 NFL players who have come out publicly. However, Nassib is the first of the 16 to come out during their active career and is the only currently openly gay player in the whole league. He described his position in these matters as, “stressful”, but has turned that stress into making major waves and impacts in charity for LGBTQ causes. To celebrate his one-year coming out post on Instagram, he directly donated 100,000 dollars to the Trevor Foundation, a nonprofit that aids LGBTQ youth. Furthermore, he announced a pledge to fans that he would donate an additional 100,000 dollars for every 100,000 dollars they donated to the Trevor Foundation. For his notable actions, he received the title of LGBTQ pioneer at this year's NFL honors event. 

Nassib along with his notable actions also shared his thoughts and reflections about being openly gay in a predominantly straight league and sport. He stressed his belief that he decided to come out in this way in hopes of normalizing diverse sexualities in both the league and the world. “I didn’t really do it to break barriers… I did it because I felt an obligation to the LGBTQ community to bring representation and bring visibility to a very, very popular entertainment business, to a very, very popular industry that doesn’t have a lot of representation.”

As is often exhibited in other diversity movements in the NFL, the importance of representation is again stressed. Like, women in sports, representation is key. The very fact that all other openly LGBTQ NFL players chose to come out post-retirement reflects the culture and unsaid nature of the game. Football’s atmosphere is characterized as hypermasculine. LGBTQ players at any level may feel anxious and fearful of the social consequences of being who they truly are. Such a stigma firstly could deter potential players, as well as have negative mental effects on current LGBTQ players. LGBTQ representation is often trivialized however Nassib stresses himself, “to remind people why Pride is important to me: out there right now there's a kid saying that I'd rather be dead than be gay.”  Players like Nassib are not only removing the limiting stigma but exhibiting how the game is changing. 

Nassib’s actions also disprove stereotypes. Societally, assumptions are made about the ability or interests of LGBTQ people. Nassib bolsters the idea that interests, vocation, or talent have nothing to do with sexual orientation. He not only advocates for such matters but also proves it in the significant success he has achieved as a player; In Nassib’s first game back he forced a fumble in overtime which led his team to a victory over the Baltimore Ravens and went to the playoffs. 

Nassib hopes one day that LGBTQ people do not have to be outed or significantly identified as “different” instead wishing to be seen as unquestioned equals; “I just want to normalize things…I really don’t think too often going through life as a gay man. I just hope one day that won’t even have to cross your mind, because it barely crosses my mind. It was a big weight put on my shoulders, but now I think it’s slowly coming off.”

Carl Nassib’s success and bravery in what may well be the most masculine field there is makes him a figure of representation. His actions may serve an example of freedom of choice and promising futures in whatever fields LGBTQ youth may seek.

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Works Cited

Ennis, Dawn. "Carl Nassib's Pride Challenge: NFL Player To Match Donations Up To $100K." Forbes, 26 June 2022, www.forbes.com/sites/dawnstaceyennis/2022/06/26/carl-nassibs-pride-challenge-nfl-player-to-match-donations-up-to-100k/.

Lavietes, Matt. "NFL star Carl Nassib is making tackles and history." NBC News, 1 June 2022, www.forbes.com/sites/dawnstaceyennis/2022/06/26/carl-nassibs-pride-challenge-nfl-player-to-match-donations-up-to-100k/.