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 src=" fer="" data-nscript="beforeInteractive"></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="bp--takeover"><div class="bp--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 data-livtream="Livtream: Sticky Hear" 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 data-livtream="Livtream: Hear" 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 data-livtream="Livtream: Megamenu" 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--bo sectn--bp sectn--first sectn--learboard"><div class="uw bp--rponsive"><div class="bp-ner"><p class="bp-label">Advertisement</p><div class="bp-ntent bp-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 article-sectns"><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--bo sectn--bp"><div class="uw bp--rponsive"><div class="bp-ner"><p class="bp-label">Advertisement</p><div class="bp-ntent bp-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

russell series gay

Rsell T Davi has said the succs of his seri It's A S is partly the rult of his cisn to st gay actors the lead rol.

Contents:

RSELL TOVEY: GAY MALE BACKLASH TO ‘LOOKG’ ‘BROKE ME, HONTLY’

Rsell Tovey, star of HBO's short-lived gay seri "Lookg," rells the negative reactns he faced om his own muny. * russell series gay *

Creator Michael Lannan’s seri about the s and outs of three gay bt iends San Francis ran for two seasons 2014 and 2015, followed by a 2016 straight-to-HBO movie place of a third season. And those hopg “Lookg” would be HBO’s gay answer to “Sex and the Cy” might have been disappoted wh what they received stead: an die film-style dramedy that played to the often driftg rhythms of s characters’ liv, seekg love and sex a Bay Area beg swallowed by the tech boom.

RSELL T. DAVI EXPLAS WHY HE ONLY CASTS GAY ACTORS GAY ROL

Rsell Tovey recently opened up about his short-lived gay seri, 'Lookg,' and how received backlash, even om his own gay male muny. * russell series gay *

Tovey, an out Brish actor who’s sce ma a name on stage (“Angels Ameri”) and screen (“Amerin Horror Story: NYC”) for playg rol both queer and straight but mostly the former, is now airg out his feelgs about the gay male rponse to the seri at the time. For young kids to be able to say, ‘Cool, I’ll watch “Glee” tonight and then go to a gay bar’ – that is an credible gift that’s been hand down.

It may appear quat now, when we have TV seri like Hulu’s Love, Victor (about a Latx teen explorg sexual fluidy) or Netflix’s Bondg (about sex work and alternative sexualy), but the great gay panic set off by Ellen DeGener g out on her s 1997 was a bombshell that didn’t necsarily nvce the works that they’d open the gat to LGBTQ experienc. Luckily Will & Grace buted 1998 and the groundbreakg NBC seri nvced many that gay people might not be so toxic (and wouldn’t sre off advertisers) — so much so that Vice Print Joe Bin later creded wh changg his md about same-sex marriage.

RSELL TOVEY OPENS UP ABOUT GAY MALE BACKLASH ON ‘LOOKG’ SERI

A new Brish TV drama looks at the liv of gay men London at the very start of the AIDS crisis — back when no one wanted to stop the party, and no one thought the vis uld touch them. * russell series gay *

Dpe the fact that lns of Amerins wnsed two men raise a happy and healthy dghter om the fort of their livg room sofas, took a fan mpaign to lobby Disney-owned ABC to fally allow Mchell (gay actor Jse Tyler Fergon) and Cameron (straight actor Eric Stontreet) to kiss ( fally happened 2010). For years, ranged, perverse, and spible homosexuals were on full display — pecially om Ryan Murphy, who remas our most proment culture czar when to queer characters on TV.

From the Roy Cohn-flected Army-McCarthy heargs — which was the first time many people heard the word “homosexual” uttered on TV — through the “don’t ask, don’t tell” Neti, that clud The Goln Girls and Digng Women, to our current glter-and-glam era of RuPl’s Drag Race and almost-anythg-go pansexualy.

'IT'S A S' BRGS A LOST GENERATN OF GAY MEN TO LIFE

The Sum of Us: Directed by Geoff Burton, Kev Dowlg. Wh Jack Thompson, Rsell Crowe, John Polson, Deborah Kennedy. A widowed father has to al wh two plex issu: while he is searchg for "Miss Right," his son, who is his 20s and gay, is searchg for "Mr. Right."" data-id="ma * russell series gay *

In that way, ’s breakg siar ground to the Sundance Now seri This Close, om af actors Shoshannah Stern and Josh Feldman, about a straight woman and gay man who are bti lookg for love and unrstandg.

‘IT’S A S’ CREATOR RSELL T DAVI SAYS IT’S IMPORTANT TO CAST GAY ACTORS AS GAY CHARACTERS

Rsell T Davi, the creator of It’s A S, has spoken out about the importance of stg gay actors as gay characters.  * russell series gay *

And while the seri received as much hate mail as adoratn — an evable byproduct of beg the first show to have openly gay male lead characters — lasted eight seasons before endg 2006.

It was Cher-lovg Jack (Sean Hay) and alholic, right-wg sociale Karen (Megan Mullally) as much as Will (Eric McCormack) and Grace (Debra Msg) that enared Amerins to the sassy s, wh l like: “Commandment number one the gay bible: Thou shalt not vet my ex’s ass. Adapted om gay director Jt Simien’s breakout film of the same name, about black llege stunts g to terms wh a “post-racial Ameri, ” the seri explor them of race, genr, and sexualy by skewerg jt about everyone for hypocrisy and double standards. In the send season, he manag to evolve beyond simple trop and is given space to explore his queer inty, cludg havg his heart broken by Silv (a self-scribed “Mexin Italian gay vers top otter pup”), fdg a boyiend (of sorts), and even beg rejected by another black man bee of his sk lor — provg that, spe all the talk of “muny, ” ’s never easy to fe lastg bonds.

The show plays to the gay-for-prison fantasy so many straight men seem to still harbor, but also shows how you n enjoy male-male timacy while also beg a harned badass.

* russell series gay *

When her straight male roommate’s twentysomethg girliend, Francis, qutns why Leila is so terrified to tell anyone that she has sex wh both men and women, Leila tells her ’s plited bee ’s “a gay thg. Matilda has high-functng tism, and some of the bt scen revolve around her explorg her fluid sexualy, while both girls embrace their gay half-brother’s relatnship failur as send nature. Pl, managed to change many nservative viewpots the black muny — cludg Timbaland, who crafted the seri’ tchy origal tracks — and was a rare moment which a gay character of lor had so much visibily.

The show, always handipped by expectatns would be the “gay Girls, ” never que found a large enough dience who tly embraced the sensive and slow-burng storytellg. An utter charmer about a gay, reverg addict edian (-creator Mae Mart) and a prevly straight teacher (Charlotte Richie) who fall eply, dangeroly love wh each other. The bt of the volv Otis’ gay bt iend Eric (Ncuti Gatwa), which is ls a tradnal g-out story (everyone already seems to know when the show begs) than about Eric beg more fortable how he feels about himself and how he prents himself to the world.

*BEAR-MAGAZINE.COM* RUSSELL SERIES GAY

It’s A S Creator Rsell T Davi On Castg Gay Actors In Gay Rol – Deadle.

TOP