R.K. Rsell reflects on the NFL's relatnship wh LGBTQ+ players, 3 years after g out as bi | Here & Now</tle><lk rel="nonil" href="><lk rel="alternate" type="applitn/rss+xml" tle="RSS" href="/wbur/rss"/><meta name="scriptn" ntent="The ee agent me out Augt of 2019. Now, he's among players stgglg to keep their jobs, even after much celebratn for their bravery g out."/><meta property="og:type" ntent="webse"/><meta property="og:tle" ntent="R.K. Rsell reflects on the NFL's relatnship wh LGBTQ+ players, 3 years after g out as bi"/><meta property="og:scriptn" ntent="The ee agent me out Augt of 2019. Now, he's among players stgglg to keep their jobs, even after much celebratn for their bravery g out."/><meta property="og:url" ntent="><meta property="og:image" ntent="><meta property="og:image:alt" ntent="R.K. Rsell speaks onstage durg A Night of Pri wh GLAAD and NFL on Febary 10, 2022 Los Angel, California. (Rich Polk/Getty Imag for GLAAD)"/><meta property="og:image:height" ntent="667"/><meta property="og:image:width" ntent="1000"/><meta name="twter:rd" ntent="summary_large_image"/><meta name="twter:se" ntent="@WBUR"/><meta name="twter:creator" ntent="@WBUR"/><meta name="twter:tle" ntent="R.K. Rsell reflects on the NFL's relatnship wh LGBTQ+ players, 3 years after g out as bi"/><meta name="twter:scriptn" ntent="The ee agent me out Augt of 2019. Now, he's among players stgglg to keep their jobs, even after much celebratn for their bravery g out."/><meta name="twter:image" ntent="><meta name="twter:image:alt" ntent="R.K. Rsell speaks onstage durg A Night of Pri wh GLAAD and NFL on Febary 10, 2022 Los Angel, California. (Rich Polk/Getty Imag for GLAAD)"/><meta name="apple-mobile-web-app-tle" ntent=""/><script type="applitn/ld+json">[{"@ntext":","@type":"NewsArticle","maEntyOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"},"headle":"R.K. Rsell reflects on the NFL's relatnship wh LGBTQ+ players, 3 years after g out as bi | Here & Now","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"},"datePublished":"2022-08-09 11:47:23","dateModified":"2022-08-09 11:47:23","thor":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Celte Headlee"},{"@type":"Person","name":"Thomas Danielian"},{"@type":"Person","name":"Jeante Muhammad"}],"publisher":{"@type":"Organizatn","name":"WBUR","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":","width":600,"height":60}},"scriptn":"The ee agent me out Augt of 2019. Now, he's among players stgglg to keep their jobs, even after much celebratn for their bravery g out."},{"@ntext":","@type":"Organizatn","name":"WBUR","image":","logo":","url":","telephone":"6173580909","sameAs":[",",",",",","],"addrs":{"@type":"PostalAddrs","streetAddrs":"890 Commonwealth Avenue","addrsLoly":"Boston","postalCo":"02215","addrsCountry":"USA"}},{"@ntext":","@type":"WebSe","name":"WBUR","url":","Language":"en-US","potentialActn":{"@type":"SearchActn","target":"}","query-put":"required name=q"}}]</script><lk rel="preload" as="image" href="><meta name="next-head-unt" ntent="24"/><meta charSet="uft-8"/><lk rel="in" href=" siz="any"/><lk rel="in" href=" type="image/svg+xml"/><lk rel="apple-touch-in" href="><lk rel="manift" href="/manift.webmanift" crossorig="e-crentials"/><meta name="theme-lor" ntent="#393A46"/><meta property="fb:app_id" ntent="134067973330252"/><lk rel="prennect" href="><lk rel="prennect" href=" crossorig="anonymo"/><lk rel="prennect" href=" crossorig /><lk rel="preload" href=" as="style"/><lk rel="stylheet" href=" data-n-g=""/><lk rel="preload" href=" as="style"/><lk rel="stylheet" href=" data-n-p=""/><noscript data-n-css=""></noscript><script fer="" nomodule="" src="></script><script fer="" src="></script><script fer="" src="></script><script fer="" src="></script><script fer="" src="></script><script src=" fer=""></script><script src=" fer=""></script><script src=" fer=""></script><script src=" fer=""></script><script src=" fer=""></script><script src=" fer=""></script><script src=" fer=""></script><script src=" fer=""></script><script src=" fer=""></script><style data-href=">@font-face{font-fay:'Public Sans';font-style:alic;font-weight:100;font-display:swap;src:url() format('woff')}@font-face{font-fay:'Public Sans';font-style:alic;font-weight:200;font-display:swap;src:url() format('woff')}@font-face{font-fay:'Public Sans';font-style:alic;font-weight:400;font-display:swap;src:url() format('woff')}@font-face{font-fay:'Public Sans';font-style:alic;font-weight:600;font-display:swap;src:url() format('woff')}@font-face{font-fay:'Public Sans';font-style:alic;font-weight:700;font-display:swap;src:url() format('woff')}@font-face{font-fay:'Public Sans';font-style:normal;font-weight:100;font-display:swap;src:url() format('woff')}@font-face{font-fay:'Public Sans';font-style:normal;font-weight:200;font-display:swap;src:url() format('woff')}@font-face{font-fay:'Public Sans';font-style:normal;font-weight:300;font-display:swap;src:url() format('woff')}@font-face{font-fay:'Public Sans';font-style:normal;font-weight:400;font-display:swap;src:url() format('woff')}@font-face{font-fay:'Public Sans';font-style:normal;font-weight:600;font-display:swap;src:url() format('woff')}@font-face{font-fay:'Public Sans';font-style:normal;font-weight:700;font-display:swap;src:url() format('woff')}@font-face{font-fay:'Public Sans';font-style:alic;font-weight:100;font-display:swap;src:url() format('woff2');uni-range:U+0102-0103,U+0110-0111,U+0128-0129,U+0168-0169,U+01A0-01A1,U+01AF-01B0,U+0300-0301,U+0303-0304,U+0308-0309,U+0323,U+0329,U+1EA0-1EF9,U+20AB}@font-face{font-fay:'Public Sans';font-style:alic;font-weight:100;font-display:swap;src:url() format('woff2');uni-range:U+0100-02AF,U+0304,U+0308,U+0329,U+1E00-1E9F,U+1EF2-1EFF,U+2020,U+20A0-20AB,U+20AD-20CF,U+2113,U+2C60-2C7F,U+A720-A7FF}@font-face{font-fay:'Public Sans';font-style:alic;font-weight:100;font-display:swap;src:url() format('woff2');uni-range:U+0000-00FF,U+0131,U+0152-0153,U+02BB-02BC,U+02C6,U+02DA,U+02DC,U+0304,U+0308,U+0329,U+2000-206F,U+2074,U+20AC,U+2122,U+2191,U+2193,U+2212,U+2215,U+FEFF,U+FFFD}@font-face{font-fay:'Public Sans';font-style:alic;font-weight:200;font-display:swap;src:url() format('woff2');uni-range:U+0102-0103,U+0110-0111,U+0128-0129,U+0168-0169,U+01A0-01A1,U+01AF-01B0,U+0300-0301,U+0303-0304,U+0308-0309,U+0323,U+0329,U+1EA0-1EF9,U+20AB}@font-face{font-fay:'Public Sans';font-style:alic;font-weight:200;font-display:swap;src:url() format('woff2');uni-range:U+0100-02AF,U+0304,U+0308,U+0329,U+1E00-1E9F,U+1EF2-1EFF,U+2020,U+20A0-20AB,U+20AD-20CF,U+2113,U+2C60-2C7F,U+A720-A7FF}@font-face{font-fay:'Public Sans';font-style:alic;font-weight:200;font-display:swap;src:url() format('woff2');uni-range:U+0000-00FF,U+0131,U+0152-0153,U+02BB-02BC,U+02C6,U+02DA,U+02DC,U+0304,U+0308,U+0329,U+2000-206F,U+2074,U+20AC,U+2122,U+2191,U+2193,U+2212,U+2215,U+FEFF,U+FFFD}@font-face{font-fay:'Public Sans';font-style:alic;font-weight:400;font-display:swap;src:url() format('woff2');uni-range:U+0102-0103,U+0110-0111,U+0128-0129,U+0168-0169,U+01A0-01A1,U+01AF-01B0,U+0300-0301,U+0303-0304,U+0308-0309,U+0323,U+0329,U+1EA0-1EF9,U+20AB}@font-face{font-fay:'Public Sans';font-style:alic;font-weight:400;font-display:swap;src:url() format('woff2');uni-range:U+0100-02AF,U+0304,U+0308,U+0329,U+1E00-1E9F,U+1EF2-1EFF,U+2020,U+20A0-20AB,U+20AD-20CF,U+2113,U+2C60-2C7F,U+A720-A7FF}@font-face{font-fay:'Public Sans';font-style:alic;font-weight:400;font-display:swap;src:url() format('woff2');uni-range:U+0000-00FF,U+0131,U+0152-0153,U+02BB-02BC,U+02C6,U+02DA,U+02DC,U+0304,U+0308,U+0329,U+2000-206F,U+2074,U+20AC,U+2122,U+2191,U+2193,U+2212,U+2215,U+FEFF,U+FFFD}@font-face{font-fay:'Public Sans';font-style:alic;font-weight:600;font-display:swap;src:url() format('woff2');uni-range:U+0102-0103,U+0110-0111,U+0128-0129,U+0168-0169,U+01A0-01A1,U+01AF-01B0,U+0300-0301,U+0303-0304,U+0308-0309,U+0323,U+0329,U+1EA0-1EF9,U+20AB}@font-face{font-fay:'Public Sans';font-style:alic;font-weight:600;font-display:swap;src:url() format('woff2');uni-range:U+0100-02AF,U+0304,U+0308,U+0329,U+1E00-1E9F,U+1EF2-1EFF,U+2020,U+20A0-20AB,U+20AD-20CF,U+2113,U+2C60-2C7F,U+A720-A7FF}@font-face{font-fay:'Public Sans';font-style:alic;font-weight:600;font-display:swap;src:url() format('woff2');uni-range:U+0000-00FF,U+0131,U+0152-0153,U+02BB-02BC,U+02C6,U+02DA,U+02DC,U+0304,U+0308,U+0329,U+2000-206F,U+2074,U+20AC,U+2122,U+2191,U+2193,U+2212,U+2215,U+FEFF,U+FFFD}@font-face{font-fay:'Public Sans';font-style:alic;font-weight:700;font-display:swap;src:url() format('woff2');uni-range:U+0102-0103,U+0110-0111,U+0128-0129,U+0168-0169,U+01A0-01A1,U+01AF-01B0,U+0300-0301,U+0303-0304,U+0308-0309,U+0323,U+0329,U+1EA0-1EF9,U+20AB}@font-face{font-fay:'Public Sans';font-style:alic;font-weight:700;font-display:swap;src:url() format('woff2');uni-range:U+0100-02AF,U+0304,U+0308,U+0329,U+1E00-1E9F,U+1EF2-1EFF,U+2020,U+20A0-20AB,U+20AD-20CF,U+2113,U+2C60-2C7F,U+A720-A7FF}@font-face{font-fay:'Public Sans';font-style:alic;font-weight:700;font-display:swap;src:url() format('woff2');uni-range:U+0000-00FF,U+0131,U+0152-0153,U+02BB-02BC,U+02C6,U+02DA,U+02DC,U+0304,U+0308,U+0329,U+2000-206F,U+2074,U+20AC,U+2122,U+2191,U+2193,U+2212,U+2215,U+FEFF,U+FFFD}@font-face{font-fay:'Public Sans';font-style:normal;font-weight:100;font-display:swap;src:url() format('woff2');uni-range:U+0102-0103,U+0110-0111,U+0128-0129,U+0168-0169,U+01A0-01A1,U+01AF-01B0,U+0300-0301,U+0303-0304,U+0308-0309,U+0323,U+0329,U+1EA0-1EF9,U+20AB}@font-face{font-fay:'Public Sans';font-style:normal;font-weight:100;font-display:swap;src:url() format('woff2');uni-range:U+0100-02AF,U+0304,U+0308,U+0329,U+1E00-1E9F,U+1EF2-1EFF,U+2020,U+20A0-20AB,U+20AD-20CF,U+2113,U+2C60-2C7F,U+A720-A7FF}@font-face{font-fay:'Public Sans';font-style:normal;font-weight:100;font-display:swap;src:url() format('woff2');uni-range:U+0000-00FF,U+0131,U+0152-0153,U+02BB-02BC,U+02C6,U+02DA,U+02DC,U+0304,U+0308,U+0329,U+2000-206F,U+2074,U+20AC,U+2122,U+2191,U+2193,U+2212,U+2215,U+FEFF,U+FFFD}@font-face{font-fay:'Public Sans';font-style:normal;font-weight:200;font-display:swap;src:url() format('woff2');uni-range:U+0102-0103,U+0110-0111,U+0128-0129,U+0168-0169,U+01A0-01A1,U+01AF-01B0,U+0300-0301,U+0303-0304,U+0308-0309,U+0323,U+0329,U+1EA0-1EF9,U+20AB}@font-face{font-fay:'Public Sans';font-style:normal;font-weight:200;font-display:swap;src:url() format('woff2');uni-range:U+0100-02AF,U+0304,U+0308,U+0329,U+1E00-1E9F,U+1EF2-1EFF,U+2020,U+20A0-20AB,U+20AD-20CF,U+2113,U+2C60-2C7F,U+A720-A7FF}@font-face{font-fay:'Public Sans';font-style:normal;font-weight:200;font-display:swap;src:url() format('woff2');uni-range:U+0000-00FF,U+0131,U+0152-0153,U+02BB-02BC,U+02C6,U+02DA,U+02DC,U+0304,U+0308,U+0329,U+2000-206F,U+2074,U+20AC,U+2122,U+2191,U+2193,U+2212,U+2215,U+FEFF,U+FFFD}@font-face{font-fay:'Public Sans';font-style:normal;font-weight:300;font-display:swap;src:url() format('woff2');uni-range:U+0102-0103,U+0110-0111,U+0128-0129,U+0168-0169,U+01A0-01A1,U+01AF-01B0,U+0300-0301,U+0303-0304,U+0308-0309,U+0323,U+0329,U+1EA0-1EF9,U+20AB}@font-face{font-fay:'Public Sans';font-style:normal;font-weight:300;font-display:swap;src:url() format('woff2');uni-range:U+0100-02AF,U+0304,U+0308,U+0329,U+1E00-1E9F,U+1EF2-1EFF,U+2020,U+20A0-20AB,U+20AD-20CF,U+2113,U+2C60-2C7F,U+A720-A7FF}@font-face{font-fay:'Public Sans';font-style:normal;font-weight:300;font-display:swap;src:url() format('woff2');uni-range:U+0000-00FF,U+0131,U+0152-0153,U+02BB-02BC,U+02C6,U+02DA,U+02DC,U+0304,U+0308,U+0329,U+2000-206F,U+2074,U+20AC,U+2122,U+2191,U+2193,U+2212,U+2215,U+FEFF,U+FFFD}@font-face{font-fay:'Public Sans';font-style:normal;font-weight:400;font-display:swap;src:url() format('woff2');uni-range:U+0102-0103,U+0110-0111,U+0128-0129,U+0168-0169,U+01A0-01A1,U+01AF-01B0,U+0300-0301,U+0303-0304,U+0308-0309,U+0323,U+0329,U+1EA0-1EF9,U+20AB}@font-face{font-fay:'Public Sans';font-style:normal;font-weight:400;font-display:swap;src:url() format('woff2');uni-range:U+0100-02AF,U+0304,U+0308,U+0329,U+1E00-1E9F,U+1EF2-1EFF,U+2020,U+20A0-20AB,U+20AD-20CF,U+2113,U+2C60-2C7F,U+A720-A7FF}@font-face{font-fay:'Public Sans';font-style:normal;font-weight:400;font-display:swap;src:url() format('woff2');uni-range:U+0000-00FF,U+0131,U+0152-0153,U+02BB-02BC,U+02C6,U+02DA,U+02DC,U+0304,U+0308,U+0329,U+2000-206F,U+2074,U+20AC,U+2122,U+2191,U+2193,U+2212,U+2215,U+FEFF,U+FFFD}@font-face{font-fay:'Public Sans';font-style:normal;font-weight:600;font-display:swap;src:url() format('woff2');uni-range:U+0102-0103,U+0110-0111,U+0128-0129,U+0168-0169,U+01A0-01A1,U+01AF-01B0,U+0300-0301,U+0303-0304,U+0308-0309,U+0323,U+0329,U+1EA0-1EF9,U+20AB}@font-face{font-fay:'Public Sans';font-style:normal;font-weight:600;font-display:swap;src:url() format('woff2');uni-range:U+0100-02AF,U+0304,U+0308,U+0329,U+1E00-1E9F,U+1EF2-1EFF,U+2020,U+20A0-20AB,U+20AD-20CF,U+2113,U+2C60-2C7F,U+A720-A7FF}@font-face{font-fay:'Public Sans';font-style:normal;font-weight:600;font-display:swap;src:url() format('woff2');uni-range:U+0000-00FF,U+0131,U+0152-0153,U+02BB-02BC,U+02C6,U+02DA,U+02DC,U+0304,U+0308,U+0329,U+2000-206F,U+2074,U+20AC,U+2122,U+2191,U+2193,U+2212,U+2215,U+FEFF,U+FFFD}@font-face{font-fay:'Public Sans';font-style:normal;font-weight:700;font-display:swap;src:url() format('woff2');uni-range:U+0102-0103,U+0110-0111,U+0128-0129,U+0168-0169,U+01A0-01A1,U+01AF-01B0,U+0300-0301,U+0303-0304,U+0308-0309,U+0323,U+0329,U+1EA0-1EF9,U+20AB}@font-face{font-fay:'Public Sans';font-style:normal;font-weight:700;font-display:swap;src:url() format('woff2');uni-range:U+0100-02AF,U+0304,U+0308,U+0329,U+1E00-1E9F,U+1EF2-1EFF,U+2020,U+20A0-20AB,U+20AD-20CF,U+2113,U+2C60-2C7F,U+A720-A7FF}@font-face{font-fay:'Public Sans';font-style:normal;font-weight:700;font-display:swap;src:url() format('woff2');uni-range:U+0000-00FF,U+0131,U+0152-0153,U+02BB-02BC,U+02C6,U+02DA,U+02DC,U+0304,U+0308,U+0329,U+2000-206F,U+2074,U+20AC,U+2122,U+2191,U+2193,U+2212,U+2215,U+FEFF,U+FFFD}</style></head><body><div id="__next"><div class="page page--article channel--hereandnow page--rk-ssell-nfl-lgbtq"><div class="for-screen-rears"><a href="#ma">Skip to ma ntent</a></div><div class="sectn--takeover"><div class="uw--takeover"><div class="uw--takeover-msage"><div style="width:to;height:to"></div></div></div></div><div class="surface" role="ma" id="ma"><hear class="Hear_hd__Pz3YQ"><div class="Hear_hd-ner__jlWFt Hear_hd-sticky__RYBve"><div class="Hear_hd-top__sWhZr"><div class="Hear_hd-top-left__pBjzQ"><div class="Hear_hd-top-left-ner__SVbcU"><div class="Hear_hd-hbg__4ze3S"><button class="Hear_hamburger___eZbd Hear_hamburger--squeeze__DpnnG" type="button"><span class="Hear_hamburger-box__EH233"><span class="Hear_hamburger-ner__EP1gQ"></span></span></button></div><div class="Hear_hd-logo__OnBv_"><a data-ec="Navigatn - Hear" data-el="WBUR Logo" data-ea="Click" href="/"><span class="sr-only">WBUR</span><svg id="hd-logo" role="img" width="102" class="in-logo" viewBox="0 0 82 25.9" aria-hidn="te"><tle>WBUR</tle><sc>90.0 WBUR - Boston's NPR News Statn</sc><path d="M9.4,25.2H7.6l-5-13.8H0.3V10h9.6v1.4H7.7l2.6,7.4l3.5-8.9h1.9l3.8,8.7l1.7-5.5c0-0.2,0.2-0.7,0.2-1.1c0-0.5-0.2-0.7-1-0.7 h-1.2V10h6.4v1.4h-1.2c-0.8,0-1.2,0.8-1.5,1.7L19,25.2H17l-4-9.2L9.4,25.2z"></path><path d="M36.1,11.5c-1.5,0-2.3,0.8-2.9,2.4c-0.2,1.1-0.4,2-0.4,3.5c0,1.6,0.2,2.6,0.4,3.6c0.7,1.6,1.5,2.4,2.9,2.4 c2.4,0,2.4-2.5,2.4-6C38.5,14,38.5,11.5,36.1,11.5 M37.2,25.5c-1.8,0-3.3-0.8-4.3-2.5v2.2h-7.5v-1.4h2.4V1.9h-2.5V0.5h7.6v11.6 c1-1.7,2.6-2.5,4.4-2.5c4.2,0,6.6,3.3,6.6,7.9C43.8,22,41.2,25.5,37.2,25.5"></path><path d="M65,25.2h-7.6v-2.3c-0.7,1.3-2.4,2.6-5,2.6c-3.4,0-5-2.2-5-4.4v-2v-7.7h-2.4V10h7.6v10.9c0,1.8,0.5,2.6,1.8,2.6 c1.3,0,2.9-1.9,2.9-4.2v-7.9h-2.5V10h7.7v13.7H65V25.2z"></path><path d="M79.1,15.9c-1.6,0-2.7-1-2.7-2.3c0-1,0.5-1.2,0.5-1.6c0-0.1-0.1-0.2-0.3-0.2c-0.8,0-2.9,2.2-2.9,5.4v6.5h2.8v1.4H66.2v-1.4 h2.4V11.4h-2.4V10h7.4v2.9c1.3-2.6,3.2-3.2,4.7-3.2c2.1,0,3.5,1.4,3.5,3.2C81.7,14.6,80.7,15.9,79.1,15.9"></path></svg></a></div><div class="Hear_hd-label__fZcEt"><a href="/rad/programs/hereandnow">Here & Now</a></div></div></div><div class="Hear_hd-top-right__L0_7c"><div class="Hear_hd-listen__2UqLZ"><svg id="listen-live-head" width="29" class="listen-live-in" role="img" viewBox="0 0 34.28256 29.03624"><g><g transform="translate(-860.718 -45)"><g transform="translate(860.718 45)"><g><path d="M5.69732,27.52333c0.27107,0.00607,0.53043-0.11038,0.706-0.317 c0.403-0.41103,0.403-1.06897,0-1.48c-5.94937-6.28852-5.94937-16.12948,0-22.418c0.40365-0.41115,0.40365-1.06985,0-1.481 C6.05723,1.43741,5.46058,1.40189,5.07066,1.74798c-0.028,0.02485-0.05449,0.05135-0.07934,0.07934 c-6.65509,7.1508-6.65509,18.2282,0,25.379C5.17852,27.39687,5.43054,27.51003,5.69732,27.52333z"></path><path d="M27.88032,1.82833c-0.40419,0.41093-0.40419,1.07007,0,1.481 c5.94824,6.28858,5.94824,16.12842,0,22.417c-0.4304,0.36687-0.4819,1.01318-0.11502,1.44358 c0.36687,0.4304,1.01318,0.48189,1.44357,0.11502c0.02892-0.02465,0.05645-0.05089,0.08245-0.0786 c6.65498-7.19124,6.65498-18.29276,0-25.484C28.86527,1.38444,28.25111,1.43058,27.88032,1.82833z"></path><path d="M10.73632,6.07033c-0.33433-0.38991-0.92145-0.43497-1.31136-0.10064 C9.38889,6.00061,9.35524,6.03426,9.32432,6.07033c-4.33435,4.79731-4.33435,12.09669,0,16.894 c0.33348,0.38991,0.91991,0.43566,1.30983,0.10218c0.03666-0.03136,0.07082-0.06552,0.10217-0.10218 c0.40381-0.42466,0.40381-1.09134,0-1.516c-3.52926-3.90546-3.52926-9.84853,0-13.754 C11.13926,7.22798,11.13926,6.53668,10.73632,6.07033z"></path><path d="M24.95632,6.07033c-0.33348-0.38991-0.91991-0.43566-1.30983-0.10217 c-0.03666,0.03135-0.07082,0.06551-0.10217,0.10217c-0.40444,0.4248-0.40444,1.0922,0,1.517 c3.52903,3.90747,3.52903,9.85153,0,13.759c-0.40444,0.4248-0.40444,1.0922,0,1.517 c0.33348,0.38991,0.91991,0.43566,1.30983,0.10217c0.03666-0.03135,0.07082-0.06551,0.10217-0.10217 C29.29216,18.10527,29.29216,10.82838,24.95632,6.07033z"></path></g></g><path d="M876.92633,55.25533c-0.44879-0.30155-1.05707-0.18219-1.35864,0.26659 c-0.10779,0.16042-0.16565,0.34914-0.16638,0.54241v6.5c0.00201,0.54068,0.44189,0.97738,0.9826,0.97539 c0.19324-0.00071,0.38196-0.05861,0.54242-0.16639l4.88501-3.267c0.45532-0.30065,0.58075-0.91352,0.28009-1.36887 c-0.07349-0.11133-0.16876-0.20662-0.28009-0.28012L876.92633,55.25533z"></path></g></g></svg> <span class="Hear_hd-listen-txt__0PZT1">LISTEN LIVE<span class="Hear_hd-listen-prg__Hn76z">: <!-- -->Loadg...</span></span></div><div class="Hear_hd-donate__grydT"><a data-ec="Navigatn - Sticky Hear" data-el="Donate Heart" data-ea="Click" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer" href="><svg role="img" width="23" class="in in-heart" viewBox="0 0 32 28"><tle>Heart</tle><path d="M16 5s-.516-1.531-1.49-2.51c-1.534-1.542-3.663-2.49-6.01-2.49s-4.472.951-6.01 2.49c-1.539 1.538-2.49 3.663-2.49 6.01s.951 4.472 2.49 6.01l13.51 13.49 13.51-13.49c1.539-1.538 2.49-3.663 2.49-6.01s-.951-4.472-2.49-6.01c-1.538-1.538-3.663-2.49-6.01-2.49s-4.476.948-6.01 2.49c-.974.979-1.49 2.51-1.49 2.51z"></path></svg> <span>DONATE</span></a></div></div></div><div class="Hear_lorbar__OxXNt"></div></div><div class="Hear_hd-ner__jlWFt"><div class="Hear_hd-top__sWhZr"><div class="Hear_hd-top-left__pBjzQ"><div class="Hear_hd-top-left-ner__SVbcU"><div class="Hear_hd-hbg__4ze3S"><button class="Hear_hamburger___eZbd Hear_hamburger--squeeze__DpnnG" type="button"><span class="Hear_hamburger-box__EH233"><span class="Hear_hamburger-ner__EP1gQ"></span></span></button></div><div class="Hear_hd-logo__OnBv_"><a href="/"><span class="sr-only">WBUR</span><svg id="hd-logo" role="img" width="102" class="in-logo" viewBox="0 0 82 25.9" aria-hidn="te"><tle>WBUR</tle><sc>90.0 WBUR - Boston's NPR News Statn</sc><path d="M9.4,25.2H7.6l-5-13.8H0.3V10h9.6v1.4H7.7l2.6,7.4l3.5-8.9h1.9l3.8,8.7l1.7-5.5c0-0.2,0.2-0.7,0.2-1.1c0-0.5-0.2-0.7-1-0.7 h-1.2V10h6.4v1.4h-1.2c-0.8,0-1.2,0.8-1.5,1.7L19,25.2H17l-4-9.2L9.4,25.2z"></path><path d="M36.1,11.5c-1.5,0-2.3,0.8-2.9,2.4c-0.2,1.1-0.4,2-0.4,3.5c0,1.6,0.2,2.6,0.4,3.6c0.7,1.6,1.5,2.4,2.9,2.4 c2.4,0,2.4-2.5,2.4-6C38.5,14,38.5,11.5,36.1,11.5 M37.2,25.5c-1.8,0-3.3-0.8-4.3-2.5v2.2h-7.5v-1.4h2.4V1.9h-2.5V0.5h7.6v11.6 c1-1.7,2.6-2.5,4.4-2.5c4.2,0,6.6,3.3,6.6,7.9C43.8,22,41.2,25.5,37.2,25.5"></path><path d="M65,25.2h-7.6v-2.3c-0.7,1.3-2.4,2.6-5,2.6c-3.4,0-5-2.2-5-4.4v-2v-7.7h-2.4V10h7.6v10.9c0,1.8,0.5,2.6,1.8,2.6 c1.3,0,2.9-1.9,2.9-4.2v-7.9h-2.5V10h7.7v13.7H65V25.2z"></path><path d="M79.1,15.9c-1.6,0-2.7-1-2.7-2.3c0-1,0.5-1.2,0.5-1.6c0-0.1-0.1-0.2-0.3-0.2c-0.8,0-2.9,2.2-2.9,5.4v6.5h2.8v1.4H66.2v-1.4 h2.4V11.4h-2.4V10h7.4v2.9c1.3-2.6,3.2-3.2,4.7-3.2c2.1,0,3.5,1.4,3.5,3.2C81.7,14.6,80.7,15.9,79.1,15.9"></path></svg></a></div><div id="label" class="Hear_hd-label__fZcEt"><a href="/rad/programs/hereandnow">Here & Now</a></div></div></div><div class="Hear_hd-top-right__L0_7c"><div class="Hear_hd-listen__2UqLZ"><svg id="listen-live-head" width="29" class="listen-live-in" role="img" viewBox="0 0 34.28256 29.03624"><g><g transform="translate(-860.718 -45)"><g transform="translate(860.718 45)"><g><path d="M5.69732,27.52333c0.27107,0.00607,0.53043-0.11038,0.706-0.317 c0.403-0.41103,0.403-1.06897,0-1.48c-5.94937-6.28852-5.94937-16.12948,0-22.418c0.40365-0.41115,0.40365-1.06985,0-1.481 C6.05723,1.43741,5.46058,1.40189,5.07066,1.74798c-0.028,0.02485-0.05449,0.05135-0.07934,0.07934 c-6.65509,7.1508-6.65509,18.2282,0,25.379C5.17852,27.39687,5.43054,27.51003,5.69732,27.52333z"></path><path d="M27.88032,1.82833c-0.40419,0.41093-0.40419,1.07007,0,1.481 c5.94824,6.28858,5.94824,16.12842,0,22.417c-0.4304,0.36687-0.4819,1.01318-0.11502,1.44358 c0.36687,0.4304,1.01318,0.48189,1.44357,0.11502c0.02892-0.02465,0.05645-0.05089,0.08245-0.0786 c6.65498-7.19124,6.65498-18.29276,0-25.484C28.86527,1.38444,28.25111,1.43058,27.88032,1.82833z"></path><path d="M10.73632,6.07033c-0.33433-0.38991-0.92145-0.43497-1.31136-0.10064 C9.38889,6.00061,9.35524,6.03426,9.32432,6.07033c-4.33435,4.79731-4.33435,12.09669,0,16.894 c0.33348,0.38991,0.91991,0.43566,1.30983,0.10218c0.03666-0.03136,0.07082-0.06552,0.10217-0.10218 c0.40381-0.42466,0.40381-1.09134,0-1.516c-3.52926-3.90546-3.52926-9.84853,0-13.754 C11.13926,7.22798,11.13926,6.53668,10.73632,6.07033z"></path><path d="M24.95632,6.07033c-0.33348-0.38991-0.91991-0.43566-1.30983-0.10217 c-0.03666,0.03135-0.07082,0.06551-0.10217,0.10217c-0.40444,0.4248-0.40444,1.0922,0,1.517 c3.52903,3.90747,3.52903,9.85153,0,13.759c-0.40444,0.4248-0.40444,1.0922,0,1.517 c0.33348,0.38991,0.91991,0.43566,1.30983,0.10217c0.03666-0.03135,0.07082-0.06551,0.10217-0.10217 C29.29216,18.10527,29.29216,10.82838,24.95632,6.07033z"></path></g></g><path d="M876.92633,55.25533c-0.44879-0.30155-1.05707-0.18219-1.35864,0.26659 c-0.10779,0.16042-0.16565,0.34914-0.16638,0.54241v6.5c0.00201,0.54068,0.44189,0.97738,0.9826,0.97539 c0.19324-0.00071,0.38196-0.05861,0.54242-0.16639l4.88501-3.267c0.45532-0.30065,0.58075-0.91352,0.28009-1.36887 c-0.07349-0.11133-0.16876-0.20662-0.28009-0.28012L876.92633,55.25533z"></path></g></g></svg> <span class="Hear_hd-listen-txt__0PZT1">LISTEN LIVE<span class="Hear_hd-listen-prg__Hn76z">: <!-- -->Loadg...</span></span></div><div class="Hear_hd-donate__grydT"><a data-ec="Navigatn - Hear" data-el="Donate Heart" data-ea="Click" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer" href="><svg role="img" width="23" class="in in-heart" viewBox="0 0 32 28"><tle>Heart</tle><path d="M16 5s-.516-1.531-1.49-2.51c-1.534-1.542-3.663-2.49-6.01-2.49s-4.472.951-6.01 2.49c-1.539 1.538-2.49 3.663-2.49 6.01s.951 4.472 2.49 6.01l13.51 13.49 13.51-13.49c1.539-1.538 2.49-3.663 2.49-6.01s-.951-4.472-2.49-6.01c-1.538-1.538-3.663-2.49-6.01-2.49s-4.476.948-6.01 2.49c-.974.979-1.49 2.51-1.49 2.51z"></path></svg> <span>DONATE</span></a></div></div></div><div class="Hear_hd-sectn-label__Vi9Op"><a href="/rad/programs/hereandnow">Here & Now</a></div><div class="Hear_lorbar__OxXNt"></div><nav class="Hear_hd-nav__HbonQ"><div class="Hear_hd-grad__kWJ2Y"></div><div class="Hear_hd-nav-lks__urJNo"><ul><li><a data-ec="Navigatn - Subnavigatn" data-el="About" data-ea="Click" class="Hear_ufl__0jA_F" href="/rad/programs/hereandnow/about">About</a></li><li><a data-ec="Navigatn - Subnavigatn" data-el="Meet The Staff" data-ea="Click" class="Hear_ufl__0jA_F" href="/rad/programs/hereandnow/staff">Meet The Staff</a></li><li><a data-ec="Navigatn - Subnavigatn" data-el="Ways To Listen" data-ea="Click" class="Hear_ufl__0jA_F" href="/rad/programs/hereandnow/ways-to-listen">Ways To Listen</a></li><li><a data-ec="Navigatn - Subnavigatn" data-el="Archive" data-ea="Click" class="Hear_ufl__0jA_F" href="/rad/programs/hereandnow/archive">Archive</a></li></ul></div></nav></div><div class="Hear_menu__SvLc0"><div class="Hear_menu-top__RawIE"><div class="Hear_menu-listen__lRj6X"><svg id="listen-live-menu" width="29" class="listen-live-in" role="img" viewBox="0 0 34.28256 29.03624"><g><g transform="translate(-860.718 -45)"><g transform="translate(860.718 45)"><g><path d="M5.69732,27.52333c0.27107,0.00607,0.53043-0.11038,0.706-0.317 c0.403-0.41103,0.403-1.06897,0-1.48c-5.94937-6.28852-5.94937-16.12948,0-22.418c0.40365-0.41115,0.40365-1.06985,0-1.481 C6.05723,1.43741,5.46058,1.40189,5.07066,1.74798c-0.028,0.02485-0.05449,0.05135-0.07934,0.07934 c-6.65509,7.1508-6.65509,18.2282,0,25.379C5.17852,27.39687,5.43054,27.51003,5.69732,27.52333z"></path><path d="M27.88032,1.82833c-0.40419,0.41093-0.40419,1.07007,0,1.481 c5.94824,6.28858,5.94824,16.12842,0,22.417c-0.4304,0.36687-0.4819,1.01318-0.11502,1.44358 c0.36687,0.4304,1.01318,0.48189,1.44357,0.11502c0.02892-0.02465,0.05645-0.05089,0.08245-0.0786 c6.65498-7.19124,6.65498-18.29276,0-25.484C28.86527,1.38444,28.25111,1.43058,27.88032,1.82833z"></path><path d="M10.73632,6.07033c-0.33433-0.38991-0.92145-0.43497-1.31136-0.10064 C9.38889,6.00061,9.35524,6.03426,9.32432,6.07033c-4.33435,4.79731-4.33435,12.09669,0,16.894 c0.33348,0.38991,0.91991,0.43566,1.30983,0.10218c0.03666-0.03136,0.07082-0.06552,0.10217-0.10218 c0.40381-0.42466,0.40381-1.09134,0-1.516c-3.52926-3.90546-3.52926-9.84853,0-13.754 C11.13926,7.22798,11.13926,6.53668,10.73632,6.07033z"></path><path d="M24.95632,6.07033c-0.33348-0.38991-0.91991-0.43566-1.30983-0.10217 c-0.03666,0.03135-0.07082,0.06551-0.10217,0.10217c-0.40444,0.4248-0.40444,1.0922,0,1.517 c3.52903,3.90747,3.52903,9.85153,0,13.759c-0.40444,0.4248-0.40444,1.0922,0,1.517 c0.33348,0.38991,0.91991,0.43566,1.30983,0.10217c0.03666-0.03135,0.07082-0.06551,0.10217-0.10217 C29.29216,18.10527,29.29216,10.82838,24.95632,6.07033z"></path></g></g><path d="M876.92633,55.25533c-0.44879-0.30155-1.05707-0.18219-1.35864,0.26659 c-0.10779,0.16042-0.16565,0.34914-0.16638,0.54241v6.5c0.00201,0.54068,0.44189,0.97738,0.9826,0.97539 c0.19324-0.00071,0.38196-0.05861,0.54242-0.16639l4.88501-3.267c0.45532-0.30065,0.58075-0.91352,0.28009-1.36887 c-0.07349-0.11133-0.16876-0.20662-0.28009-0.28012L876.92633,55.25533z"></path></g></g></svg> <span>Listen Live</span></div><div class="Hear_menu-search__BXBvf"><a href="/search"><svg width="24" class="in in-search" role="img" viewBox="0 0 22.51129 22.5113"><tle>Search</tle><g><path d="M9.2473,14.38829c2.83929,0,5.141-2.3017,5.141-5.141c0-2.8393-2.3017-5.141-5.141-5.141 c-2.83929,0-5.141,2.3017-5.141,5.141v0C4.1063,12.08659,6.408,14.38829,9.2473,14.38829z M17.08229,14.17429l5.429,5.429 l-2.908,2.908l-5.429-5.429c-4.32499,2.71894-10.03522,1.41698-12.75416-2.908S0.00315,4.13908,4.32814,1.42014 s10.03522-1.41698,12.75416,2.908C18.97419,7.33755,18.97419,11.16488,17.08229,14.17429z"></path></g></svg></a></div></div><nav class="Hear_menu-lks__xB1qP"><div class="Hear_menu-lks-group__CIxgZ Hear_menu-lks-sectns__VtyQE"><h4>Sectns</h4><ul><li><a data-ec="Navigatn - Menu" data-el="Lol Coverage" data-ea="Click" href="/news">Lol Coverage</a></li><li><a data-ec="Navigatn - Menu" data-el="Arts & Culture" data-ea="Click" href="/news/sectn/arts-culture">Arts & Culture</a></li><li><a data-ec="Navigatn - Menu" data-el="Bs" data-ea="Click" href="/news/sectn/bs">Bs</a></li><li><a data-ec="Navigatn - Menu" data-el="Edutn" data-ea="Click" href="/news/sectn/tn">Edutn</a></li><li><a data-ec="Navigatn - Menu" data-el="Environment" data-ea="Click" href="/news/sectn/environment">Environment</a></li><li><a data-ec="Navigatn - Menu" data-el="Health" data-ea="Click" href="/news/sectn/health">Health</a></li><li><a data-ec="Navigatn - Menu" data-el="Invtigatns" data-ea="Click" href="/news/sectn/vtigatns">Invtigatns</a></li><li><a data-ec="Navigatn - Menu" data-el="Cognoscenti" data-ea="Click" href="/opn/sectn/gnoscenti">Cognoscenti</a></li><li><a data-ec="Navigatn - Menu" data-el="Boston News Quiz" data-ea="Click" href="/quiz">Boston News Quiz</a></li></ul></div><div class="Hear_menu-lks-group__CIxgZ Hear_menu-lks-rad__c_P2l"><h4>Rad</h4><ul><li><a data-ec="Navigatn - Menu" data-el="On-Air Schle" data-ea="Click" href="/rad/schle">On-Air Schle</a></li><li><a data-ec="Navigatn - Menu" data-el="Morng Edn" data-ea="Click" href="/rad/programs/morngedn">Morng Edn</a></li><li><a data-ec="Navigatn - Menu" data-el="On Pot" data-ea="Click" href="/rad/programs/onpot">On Pot</a></li><li><a data-ec="Navigatn - Menu" data-el="Rad Boston" data-ea="Click" href="/rad/programs/radboston">Rad Boston</a></li><li><a data-ec="Navigatn - Menu" data-el="Here & Now" data-ea="Click" href="/rad/programs/hereandnow">Here & Now</a></li><li><a data-ec="Navigatn - Menu" data-el="All Thgs Consired" data-ea="Click" href="/rad/programs/all-thgs-nsired">All Thgs Consired</a></li><li><a data-ec="Navigatn - Menu" data-el="Ways To Listen " data-ea="Click" href="/ways-to-listen">Ways To Listen </a></li><li><a data-ec="Navigatn - Menu" data-el="All Rad Programs" data-ea="Click" href="/rad">All Rad Programs</a></li></ul></div><div class="Hear_menu-lks-group__CIxgZ Hear_menu-lks-podsts__8IbkR"><h4>Podsts</h4><ul><li><a data-ec="Navigatn - Menu" data-el="The Common" data-ea="Click" href="/podsts/the-mon">The Common</a></li><li><a data-ec="Navigatn - Menu" data-el="Endls Thread" data-ea="Click" href="/podsts/endlsthread">Endls Thread</a></li><li><a data-ec="Navigatn - Menu" data-el="Circle Round" data-ea="Click" href="/podsts/circleround">Circle Round</a></li><li><a data-ec="Navigatn - Menu" data-el="Vlatn" data-ea="Click" href=">Vlatn</a></li><li><a data-ec="Navigatn - Menu" data-el="Last Seen" data-ea="Click" href="/podsts/lastseen">Last Seen</a></li><li><a data-ec="Navigatn - Menu" data-el="Anythg For Selena" data-ea="Click" href="/podsts/anythgforselena">Anythg For Selena</a></li><li><a data-ec="Navigatn - Menu" data-el="All Podsts" data-ea="Click" href="/podsts">All Podsts</a></li></ul></div><div class="Hear_menu-lks-group__CIxgZ Hear_menu-lks-cyspace__CT5HQ"><h4>CySpace</h4><ul><li><a data-ec="Navigatn - Menu" data-el="Event Calendar" data-ea="Click" href="/events">Event Calendar</a></li><li><a data-ec="Navigatn - Menu" data-el="Watch Past Events" data-ea="Click" href="/events/browse?archive">Watch Past Events</a></li><li><a data-ec="Navigatn - Menu" data-el="Rentals" data-ea="Click" href="/events/rent-cyspace">Rentals</a></li><li><a data-ec="Navigatn - Menu" data-el="Events Newsletter" data-ea="Click" href="/events/newsletter">Events Newsletter</a></li></ul></div><div class="Hear_menu-lks-group__CIxgZ Hear_menu-lks-support__hHX_2"><h4>Support</h4><ul><li><a data-ec="Navigatn - Menu" data-el="Make A Donatn" data-ea="Click" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer" href=">Make A Donatn</a></li><li><a data-ec="Navigatn - Menu" data-el="Bee A Member" data-ea="Click" href="/membership/605748/members">Bee A Member</a></li><li><a data-ec="Navigatn - Menu" data-el="Member Servic" data-ea="Click" href="/membership">Member Servic</a></li><li><a data-ec="Navigatn - Menu" data-el="Donate Your Car" data-ea="Click" href="/membership/605928/donate-your-r">Donate Your Car</a></li><li><a data-ec="Navigatn - Menu" data-el="Jo The Murrow Society" data-ea="Click" href="/murrowsociety">Jo The Murrow Society</a></li></ul></div></nav><div class="sub subscribe-menu"><div class="sub-ner"><div class="sub-left"><h4>Subscribe to our weekday newsletter</h4><p>Add WBUR to your morng route</p></div><div class="sub-mid"><div class="sub-validatn dn">The email addrs entered is valid</div><put id="subscribe-menu" class="sub-form" type="text" placeholr="Your Email Addrs"/><svg class="in-right" viewBox="0 0 12 12"><g><polyle fill="none" stroke-width="1.25" stroke-lep="round" stroke-lejo="round" stroke-merlim="10" pots="6.4,1.6 11.2,5.6 6.4,10.4 "></polyle><le fill="none" stroke-width="1.25" stroke-lep="round" stroke-lejo="round" stroke-merlim="10" x1="11.2" y1="5.6" x2="0.8" y2="5.6"></le></g></svg><svg class="spner dn" viewBox="0 0 100 100" prerveAspectRat="xMidYMid"><circle cx="50" cy="50" r="32" stroke-width="8" stroke="#3F84D9" stroke-dasharray="50.26548245743669 50.26548245743669" fill="none" stroke-lep="round" transform="rotate(39.3336 50 50)"><animateTransform attributeName="transform" type="rotate" repeatCount="fe" dur="1s" keyTim="0;1" valu="0 50 50;360 50 50"></animateTransform></circle></svg></div><div class="sub-right"><span class="sub-msage">It’s Boston lol news one ncise, fun and rmative email</span><span class="sub-succs dn">Thank you! You have been subscribed to WBUR Today.</span><span class="sub-error dn">We were unable to subscribe you to WBUR Today. You n try<!-- --> <a href="/newsletters">subscribg here</a> or try aga later.</span></div></div></div></div></hear><article class="article" data-rid="793585" data-rtype="story"><div id="gtm-visibily-50" class="gtm-pixel"></div><div id="gtm-visibily-75" class="gtm-pixel"></div><div id="gtm-visibily-100" class="gtm-pixel"></div><sectn class="sectn--breakout sectn--uw sectn--first sectn--learboard"><div class="uw uw--rponsive"><div class="uw-ner"><p class="uw-label">Advertisement</p><div class="uw-ntent uw-ntent--centered"><div style="width:300px;height:50px"></div></div></div></div></sectn><hear class="article-sectn--tle article-sectn--island article-sectn--has-d"><div class="article-actn"><h1 class="article-hdr">R.K. Rsell reflects on the NFL's relatnship wh LGBTQ+ players, 3 years after g out as bi</h1><span class="d-meta"><span class="article-d-duratn" aria-label="Aud Duratn">10:48</span><div class="article-d-opts"><a href=" class="article-d-dl" tle="Download the d" download="" role="button" tabx="0"><svg class="in in-download" viewBox="0 0 24 24" aria-labelledby="tle"><tle id="tle">Download Aud</tle><path class="path1" d="M15 2q1.828 0 3.496 0.715t2.871 1.918 1.918 2.871 0.715 3.496q0 1.992-0.82 3.766t-2.266 3.027-3.281 1.816l0.492-0.484q0.422-0.43 0.656-1 0.219-0.531 0.219-1.156 0-0.156-0.008-0.219 1.391-0.969 2.199-2.48t0.809-3.27q0-1.422-0.555-2.719t-1.492-2.234-2.234-1.492-2.719-0.555q-1.297 0-2.496 0.465t-2.109 1.262-1.523 1.906-0.793 2.367h-2.078q-1.656 0-2.828 1.172t-1.172 2.828q0 0.906 0.355 1.68t0.934 1.27 1.285 0.773 1.426 0.277h1.172q0.273 0.687 0.703 1.125l0.883 0.875h-2.758q-1.633 0-3.012-0.805t-2.184-2.184-0.805-3.012 0.805-3.012 2.184-2.184 3.012-0.805h0.516q0.617-1.742 1.859-3.098t2.973-2.129 3.652-0.773zM13 10q0.414 0 0.707 0.293t0.293 0.707v6.586l1.289-1.297q0.289-0.289 0.711-0.289 0.43 0 0.715 0.285t0.285 0.715q0 0.422-0.289 0.711l-3 3q-0.289 0.289-0.711 0.289t-0.711-0.289l-3-3q-0.289-0.305-0.289-0.711 0-0.414 0.293-0.707t0.707-0.293q0.422 0 0.711 0.289l1.289 1.297v-6.586q0-0.414 0.293-0.707t0.707-0.293z"></path></svg></a><button class="d-embed modal--toggle" tle="Embed on your webse"><svg class="in in-embed" viewBox="0 0 108 108" aria-labelledby="tle"><tle id="tle">Embed on your webse</tle><g><path d="M0,57.6l31,13.8v-9L9.6,54.3l-0.7-0.1v-0.2l0.7-0.1L31,45.6v-9L0,50.4V57.6z M37.3,87.5h8.3l24.1-67h-8.3L37.3,87.5z M75.9,36.6v8.9l22.4,8.2l0.7,0.2l0,0.2l-0.7,0.1l-22.4,8.4v8.9L108,57.6v-7.2L75.9,36.6z"></path></g></svg></button><div id="embed-player-modal" class="modal"><button class="modal-close modal--toggle" type="button"><span class="sr-only">Close</span><span aria-hidn="te">×</span></button><div class="modal-ner"><h3>Copy the below to embed the WBUR d player on your se</h3><p><textarea id="embed-player-"><iame width="100%" height="124" scrollg="no" ameborr="no" src=";</textarea></p><button class="modal-btn-py">Copy embed </button></div></div></div></span><a class="rd-actn playable" style="text-ratn:none" tle="Rume" tabx="0"><i class="in-play in-play--article"><span class="in-play-shape"><span class="in-label" data-note="for-screen-rears">Rume</span></span></i></a></div><div class="article-meta"><span class="article-meta-em--date"><span tle="Tuday, Augt 9th 2022, 11:47:23 am">Augt 09, 2022</span></span><ul class="article-meta-em--thorlist article-meta-group"><li class="article-meta-em article-meta-em--thor"><a class="article-meta-lk article-meta-em--thor" href="/si/staff/celte-headlee">Celte Headlee</a></li><li class="article-meta-em article-meta-em--thor"><a class="article-meta-lk article-meta-em--thor" href="/si/staff/thomas-danielian">Thomas Danielian</a></li><li class="article-meta-em article-meta-em--thor"><a class="article-meta-lk article-meta-em--thor" href="/si/staff/jeante-muhammad">Jeante Muhammad</a></li></ul><div class="article-share article-share-ins"><a href=" & target="_blank" rel="noreferrer" class="article-share-lk" tle="Share on Facebook"><svg class="in in-facebook" viewBox="0 0 128 128" role="img" width="24" aria-labelledby="tle"><tle id="tle">facebook</tle><path display="le" d="M120.1,0H8.2c-4.4,0-8,3.6-8,8v112c0,4.4,3.6,8,8,8h60.4V78.2h-16V59.8h16V43.9 c0-14.6,8.9-24.3,26.4-24.3c7.7,0,13.1,0.9,13.1,0.9V37h-12c-5.3,0-8,3-8,8.2v14.5h18.7l-2.7,18.4h-16v49.7h32c4.4,0,8-3.6,8-8V8 C128.1,3.6,124.5,0,120.1,0z"></path></svg></a><a href="mailto:?body=R.K. Rsell reflects on the NFL's relatnship wh LGBTQ+ players, 3 years after g out as R.K. Rsell reflects on the NFL's relatnship wh LGBTQ+ players, 3 years after g out as bi" class="article-share-lk" tle="Share by email"><svg class="in in-email" viewBox="0 0 128 128" width="20" aria-labelledby="tle"><tle id="tle">Email</tle><path display="le" d="M64.2,86.3l-64-48V104c0,4.4,3.6,8,8,8h112c4.4,0,8-3.6,8-8V38.4L64.2,86.3z M64.2,72l64-48 c0-4.4-3.6-8-8-8H8.2c-4.4,0-8,3.6-8,8L64.2,72z"></path></svg></a></div></div></hear><sectn class="article-sectn--lead-image article-sectn--lead-image--standard"><figure class="article-fig" style="aspect-rat:1000 / 667"><picture class="article-fig-ner"><img class="article-image" src=" alt="R.K. Rsell speaks onstage durg A Night of Pri wh GLAAD and NFL on Febary 10, 2022 Los Angel, California. (Rich Polk/Getty Imag for GLAAD)"/></picture><figptn class="article-fig-ptn">R.K. Rsell speaks onstage durg A Night of Pri wh GLAAD and NFL on Febary 10, 2022 Los Angel, California. (Rich Polk/Getty Imag for GLAAD)</figptn></figure></sectn><sectn class="article-sectn--ntent hang-punctuatn article-sectn--first article-sectn--centered"><p class="">When Las Vegas Rairs football player Carl Nassib me out as gay last summer, he received praise for his honty and bravery. But spe supportive ial reactns, the first openly gay active player NFL history is now whout a team.</p><p class="">He’s not alone. Former NFL player <a href=">R.K. Rsell</a> also found himself teamls and stgglg to fd a new one after g out as bisexual. When he ma the announcement Augt 2019, Rsell felt exced at first but also aaid of the rponse he would receive.</p><p class="nt-medium">“There's also the fear that beg the first active person to e out, that I won't sign another team. A fear that my lleagu won't unrstand, that I'll be shunned om the NFL, a league that is known to be very mascule, a manly man sport and tough,” Rsell says. “And a lot of the tim, culture tells that LGBTQ+ people aren't those thgs.”</p><p class="">Those fears were later found when Rsell’s opportuni wh the NFL evaporated. In an op-ed for <a href=">The Guardian</a> earlier this year, Rsell wrote that more attentn should be given to how players are treated after g out stead of only focg on their announcement.</p><p class="">Instanc of homophobia stadiums, locker rooms and fandom still perlate. One example Rsell pots to is former Las Vegas Rairs ach Jon Gn, whose misogynistic, racist and homophobic emails om 2010 to 2018 were tailed by <a href=">The New York Tim 2021</a>. While some wh the NFL say Gn is an outlier, Rsell disagre.</p><p class="nt-medium">“Even if this isn't a thread throughout the NFL or throughout male profsnal sports or leagu, 's somethg that's beg tolerated. It's somethg that's beg pacified,” Rsell says. “And a lot of the tim tolerance is even worse.”</p><p class="">Back 2019, queer former NFL player <a href=">Ryan O’Callahan</a> said there was at least one player on every NFL team who is gay or bisexual. Rsell remembers beg that posn but also unrstands NFL players are privileged. Many LGBTQ+ youth may not be able to e out at the risk of vlence, he says. A recent survey om <a href=">The Trevor Project</a> revealed that nearly half of LGBTQ+ youth serly nsired suici the past year. The survey also found anxiety and prsn were strongly prevalent among queer youth.</p><p class="">For LGBTQ+ kids hopg to bee NFL players, Rsell says he would tell them they n be whatever they want, echog a lson his mother tght him at a young age.</p><p class="nt-medium">“The person that you are is only fed by you,” he says. “There are people this league and this world that are jt like you.”</p><p class="">Sce leavg the NFL, Rsell says his life has been better than any year he spent the league. While there are still moments he wish he uld play, he says he’s proud of the person he is now.</p><p class="nt-medium">“At the end of the day, I loved what I did but I didn't love myself. I loved the guys my locker room, I loved that mararie and that brotherhood, but I didn't love me,” he says. “And that blocked any happs that I uld have got om playg football.”</p><hr/><p class=""><em><a href="> Thomas Danielian</a> produced and eded this terview for broadst wh <a href=">Todd Mundt</a>. <a href=">Jeante Muhammad</a> adapted for the web.</em></p></sectn><sectn class="article-sectn--story-group article-sectn--centered"><p class=""><em>This segment aired on Augt 9, 2022.</em></p></sectn><sectn class="article-sectn--story-group article-sectn--centered Tags_article-sectn--tags__NOKiB"><a data-ec="Article Tags" data-el="Here & Now: Edors' Picks" data-ea="Click" class="article-tag" href="/rad/programs/hereandnow/tag/here-and-now-edors-picks">Here & Now: Edors' Picks</a></sectn></article><sectn class="article-sectn--story-group article-sectn--centered"><div class="ntributor has-photo"><div class="ntributor-profile"><figure class="ntributor-profile-em ntributor-photo"><a href="/si/staff/celte-headlee"><picture><img src=" class="lazy rd-image" alt=""/></picture></a></figure><p class="ntributor-profile-em ntributor-b"><a class="ntributor-name" href="/si/staff/celte-headlee">Celte Headlee</a> <span class="ntributor-tle">Gut Host, Here & Now</span><br/>Celte Headlee is a gut host on Here & Now, wrer, journalist and thor of "Speakg of Race: Why Everybody Needs to Talk About Racism — and How to Do It."</p><p class="ntributor-more"><a class="ntributor-lk ntributor-b-lk" href="/si/staff/celte-headlee">More…</a></p></div></div><div class="ntributor has-photo"><div class="ntributor-profile"><figure class="ntributor-profile-em ntributor-photo"><a href="/si/staff/thomas-danielian"><picture><img src=" class="lazy rd-image" alt=""/></picture></a></figure><p class="ntributor-profile-em ntributor-b"><a class="ntributor-name" href="/si/staff/thomas-danielian">Thomas Danielian</a> <span class="ntributor-tle">Associate Producer, Here & Now</span><br/>Thomas Danielian is an associate producer for Here & Now.</p><p class="ntributor-more"><a class="ntributor-lk ntributor-b-lk" href="/si/staff/thomas-danielian">More…</a></p></div></div><div class="ntributor has-photo"><div class="ntributor-profile"><figure class="ntributor-profile-em ntributor-photo"><a href="/si/staff/jeante-muhammad"><picture><img src=" class="lazy rd-image" alt=""/></picture></a></figure><p class="ntributor-profile-em ntributor-b"><a class="ntributor-name" href="/si/staff/jeante-muhammad">Jeante Muhammad</a> <span class="ntributor-tle">Freelance Associate Producer, Here & Now</span><br/>Jeante Muhammad is a eelance assistant producer for Here & Now.</p><p class="ntributor-more"><a class="ntributor-lk ntributor-b-lk" href="/si/staff/jeante-muhammad">More…</a></p></div></div></sectn><sectn class="sectn--breakout sectn--uw"><div class="uw uw--rponsive"><div class="uw-ner"><p class="uw-label">Advertisement</p><div class="uw-ntent uw-ntent--centered"><div style="width:300px;height:50px"></div></div></div></div></sectn><div></div><div class="global-d-ponents onmand--is-playg"><div class="global-player"><d preload="to"></d><div class="global-player-bar"><div class="global-player-bar-left"><button class="global-player-bar-ntrol"><i class="in-play in-play--global-player-bar in-play--psed"><span class="in-play-shape"><span class="in-label" data-note="for-screen-rears">Rume</span></span></i></button><div class="global-player-label global-player-label--live"><div class="global-player-channel"><span>Listen Live</span></div><div class="global-player-tle"><a class="global-player-label-lk" href="/">Loadg...</a></div></div></div><div class="global-player-bar-right"><div class="global-player-x"><svg class="in in-close" viewBox="0 0 24 24" aria-labelledby="tle"><tle id="tle">Close

gay moments football

After a character the CBBC drama Jamie Johnson out - Newsround speaks to profsnals and young players about beg gay and playg football.

Contents:

KEV MAXEN BE FIRST MALE ACH A US MEN’S PROFSNAL SPORTS LEAGUE TO PUBLICLY E OUT AS GAY

Kev Maxen has bee the first male ach a US men’s profsnal sports league to e out as gay. * gay moments football *

Per Outsports, as of September 2022, there have only ever been 16 players NFL history to publicly e out as gay or bisexual. Per Outsports, Maxen is the “first publicly out male ach a major Amerin men’s pro sports league, ” wh WNBA ach Curt Miller, who publicly me out to the media as gay 2015, also a publicly out male ach an Amerin profsnal sports league. While wasn't all posive -- the chantg of gay slurs and lack of any out players proved FIFA has a long way to go -- the tournament provid fans wh tons of sexy fodr.

It was nearly impossible to tch all the great moments of the World Cup so we gathered all our favore (and gayt) on here:Croatia's post-match skny dipFollowg a tough loss to Brazil the first round, the Croatian team found solace by bathg naked together. The fleetg timate moments on the fieldWhile there wasn't any gay moment happeng here, the photo of ref Nila Rizzoli and Argenta player Gonzalo Higua ma wonr if we were watchg gay porn or the World Cup. We’re not sure why other people watch sports, but we n tell you why we do: For those special moments when players are ught homoerotic posns.

I, personally, am not even particularly offend by the moment; I jt fot that this was what was like, that spe the years of rabow lac and pta’s armbands, Sttish football – that is, men’s Sttish football – still has a problem wh homophobia. Ined, jt over half of Sttish football fans surveyed by the Equaly Network 2017 reported wnsg homophobic behavur at a football ground. And yet while the polici agast homophobic language rema as strgent as that agast racism, the realy of enforcement is is, I thk, partly bee of the way homophobic language has imbedd self so eply to the Sttish vernacular as to seem almost nocuo.

JAGUARS ASSOCIATE STRENGTH ACH KEV MAXEN OUT AS GAY A FIRST FOR US-BASED PRO LEAGU

Jacksonville Jaguars associate strength ach Kev Maxen has e out as gay. His announcement is a first for a male ach a major U.S.-based profsnal league. * gay moments football *

In all my algs wh him he had never said an unkd word or treated me any way differently bee I was gay.

I jt want to watch the people pot to the notable absence of any openly gay football players a major league as proof of the hospable environment.

He hung himself after beg acced of sexually assltg a 17-year-old boy the state of Maryland (where all homosexual acts were, at that time, illegal) his suici note stated: “I realised I had already been prumed guilty. ” However, I thk is fair to say that football clubs themselv are more welg plac to gay players than they ever were Fashanu’s time.

DPE S BT TENTNS, FOOTBALL REMAS UNWELG OF GAY FANS

‘NFL 360’ profil five LGBTQ people wh a sports background, cludg three openly gay football players, on the impact of Nassib g out. * gay moments football *

Even if the prence of Malky Mackay as the SFA’s performance director – a man wh a known history of sual homophobia – is hardly hearteng, the environment for homosexual players is unniably more welg than ever has been. A gay football player would not only have to al wh the evable hecklg of the opposn fans, but also wir society’s need to celebrate them for an attribute they never had a say ; a facet of their character that, unlike their skill as a player, didn’t take years of graft and trag.

The dilemma any prospective gay footballer fac is that their reer would be overshadowed by their story. Whoever choos to bee the first openly gay profsnal male football player the UK would be fallg on a sword that would bleed them of their privacy.

Bee until young gay players n see themselv the Premier League all but the strongt-willed will hang up their boots prematurely.

THREE GAY FOOTBALL PLAYERS FEATURED NFL NETWORK SEGMENT ON CARL NASSIB

It is believed by many that male profsnal footballers are not openly gay or bisexual parison to female players. Read on to fd out more about the homosexual male players football history. * gay moments football *

Nobody should have to sacrifice their personal fort orr to prove that a gay player’s life don’t have to end tragedy. How is anyone expected to report homophobic language when the victims of s damage rema anonymo?

Matea offensive leman Jake Strer, who is gay, is one of five current or former LGBTQ athlet profiled. “When I returned to football my sophomore year after g out was bee I knew that if I qu football was jt the begng of thgs I would qu or hold myself back om bee I was gay, ” Strer told Outsports. “To fast forward to my last football game my senr year and have end wh ‘NFL 360’ there to clu me a story celebratg the first openly gay football player NFL history is still really unbelievable to me.

RAIRS’ CARL NASSIB ANNOUNC HE’S GAY, AN N.F.L. FIRST

Ryan Rsell tells BBC Sport about g out as bisexual 2019 and his hop to be the first openly gay or bi man to play an NFL game. * gay moments football *

EST, we see scen of Strer’s last game as a Matea Mtang, terspersed wh him speakg about beg gay football and what Nassib’s g out meant to him. Their experienc are universal, ways good and bad, for many LGBTQ people — Pick talkg about the pa om the ial rejectn by her mom; O’Callaghan discsg suicidal thoughts before beg rcued by a therapist; Rapoport’s touchg rellectn of g out to NFL Commissner Roger Gooll by approachg him at a Super Bowl event holdg her girliend’s hand and Gooll’s se upon seeg ; Saffold discsg growg up Black and gay on the South Si of Chigo “where there are rampant levels of homophobia” and Strer on how he ed to worry “about how bad my life might be after I me out. “I thk 11- or 12-year-old kids playg football prr to Carl Nassib g out didn’t thk there uld be a gay football player, ” Rapoport said.

NFL PROUDLY CLAR 'FOOTBALL IS GAY' NEW VIO

The Rairs fensive leman me out a statement posted to his Instagram acunt on Monday, beg the first active player the league to publicly intify as gay. * gay moments football *

Acrdg to rearch fdgs, football supporters would like to see homophobia elimated, believe the FA is not dog enough to addrs the issue, and would feel at ease if a member of their team me out as gay.

WHY 'S STILL DIFFICULT TO BE MALE, GAY AND PLAY FOOTBALL

The Natnal Football League clared, "Football is gay," a vio shared on Twter on Monday rponse to player Carl Nassib's g out. * gay moments football *

Homosexual male players football historyHere is a list of the profsnal male footballers who me out public and announced their homosexualy. Uned and Mnota Uned FC Major League Soccer, and for Richmond Kickers and Hartford Athletic the Uned Football me out as gay June 2018, makg him the only out man any of the big five Amerin sports leagu or any top-divisn profsnal men's natnal soccer, 26, shared the news on Twter, notg he had been openly gay to his iends and fay for years, but never on such a large platform. It's an important night for me — I'll be announcg that I am an openly gay player Major League Soccer, ' he wrote on Twter.

'Mart's announcement ma him one of only two openly gay players Major League Soccer - the other beg Robbie Rogers, who retired shortly after his announcement but me back to play Tto was the first player to e out as a gay man, makg the announcement shortly after his retirement said his cisn to e out on an ternatnal stage was ma 'much easier' by the 'kdns and acceptance' om his fellow players. He released a book named “Comg Out to Play” announced his retirement and sexualy wh a 408-word post on his personal blog, which Rogers wrote, "I'm a soccer player, I'm Christian, and I'm gay. Anton HysenGlenn Anton Hysén, born December 13, 1990, is among the homosexual male players football history.

Daily Mail has scribed Anton as the "first high-profile Swedish footballer to announce that he is gay" and as the send active profsnal football player to e out, after English footballer Jt Fashanu 1990.

JAKE DANIELS BE FIRST UK MALE FOOTBALLER TO E OUT AS GAY SCE 1990

He won the seventh season of Let's Dance, beg the first openly gay person to w this Hysén said: 'I am a footballer and gay. At the Stockholm Pri, he livered a speech nouncg sports homophobia and laid to rt his 2001 airport stated that, "I know that many LGBT people have been the victims of asslts and hate crim.

Cint had been blown out of proportn the orr to fally flh the Frankfurt Airport punch down the toilet: is not the se that I beat up a gay person. "In the same speech he asked "How easy would be for a sixteen-year-old boy who plays football to e out as gay to his team mat? "While Germany as a untry has noticeably bee more and more relaxed about homosexualy recent years, he had also noted there was an unhelpful media obssn wh fdg the first gay footballer.

All sorts of well-tend but ultimately unhelpful terventns om heterosexual players – who eher oped that gay players would benef om g out or utned agast – did not exactly fill him wh nfince that this was ed the right former ternatnal, who played the 2006 World Cup and the 2008 European Champnship, matas that he did not have to lie about his sexualy and that teammat eventually stopped askg about his lack of a girliend. "But the important thg for me is to show that beg a homosexual football player is somethg that is normal. The perceived ntradictn between playg football, the man's game, and beg homosexual is nonsense.

*BEAR-MAGAZINE.COM* GAY MOMENTS FOOTBALL

3 gay football players featured NFL Network segment on Carl Nassib - Outsports .

TOP