Meet the 16 out gay and bi players NFL history - Outsports

gay ex nfl football player

The Las Vegas Rairs are releasg Carl Nassib, the fensive end who ma history last year as the first openly gay active player NFL history.

Contents:

MEET THE 16 OUT GAY AND BI FOOTBALL PLAYERS THE NFL’S 103-YEAR HISTORY

Carl Nassib is the first to ever play a down as openly gay, but the rt are still trailblazers. * gay ex nfl football player *

The NFL has played for more than 100 years and there have been 16 gay or bi players to e out publicly.

Over the years, Outsports has known of a few other players who are gay but have never e out, even when retired.

THERE HAVE BEEN 11 KNOWN GAY PLAYERS NFL HISTORY

Retired NFL lebacker Jeff Rohrer is gay and set to bee the first former or current NFL player a same-sex marriage when he weds Joshua Ross this weekend" emprop="scriptn * gay ex nfl football player *

Jenks is gay and this was the the first time he wily discsed his sexual orientatn.

Perkz/@rlnassib/@rkrelentls)When Kansas State offensive tackle and NFL hopeful Stt Frantz me out to the natn as gay, he shared that his teammat (to whom he'd e out earlier) had warmly received the news, a sign the most alpha of locker rooms may fally be ready for equaly.

Here's a list of players llege and pro ball who have proved you n be gay or bi and still n the gntlet. Roy "Sugar Bear" Simmons, an offensive leman for the New York Giants and Washgton Redsks, beme the send NFL player ever to publicly reveal he was gay. So Coach Vce Lombardi knew McDonald was gay when he took over learship of the team 1969, but ma clear there would be no discrimatn his locker room, those close to the legend say.

JEFF ROHRER — RETIRED DALLAS COWBOYS LEBACKER — COM OUT AS GAY, REVEALS HE'S GETTG MARRIED

Players on 22 NFL teams have already had an out gay teammate, cludg six players wh the Arizona Cardals. * gay ex nfl football player *

Cornerback Wa Davis, who played preason wh the Tennsee Tans, Seattle Seahawks and Washgton Redsks and spent two seasons wh NFL Europe teams Berl Thunr and Barcelona Dragons, me out as gay 2012, nearly a after his retirement. He would later nfirm his sexualy on CNN and s down wh ESPN to discs the challeng of growg up gay Jamai and playg football while closeted. He later cled to sign wh the Tennsee Tans and Dallas Cowboys before g out as gay at 24, he told Philalphia Magaze revealed to the magaze that he'd dated a male cheerlear at Purdue who had threatened to out him then.

He would later move to San Francis and jo the Fog, a gay gby team, and pen a g-out blog post 2015. Wyatt Pertet, a special teams player and receiver for Capal Universy, will be a sophomore this season. The Bachelor star and former football player (who was signed by the San Diego Chargers as an undrafted ee agent and was on the practice squad of the Oakland Rairs and the Philalphia Eagl) me out as gay April of 2021, sayg he had fally e to terms wh his sexualy and the "next step all of this was sort of lettg people know.

7 GAY NFL FOOTBALL PLAYERS

Kev Maxen, a strength ach for the Jacksonville Jaguars, has e out, beg the first openly gay male ach men's U.S. profsnal sports. * gay ex nfl football player *

"He wanted everyone to know he was "still the same Colton everybody met on TV" and is "proud to be gay.

FORMER NFL PLAYER: THERE ARE GAY, BISEXUAL PLAYERS ON EVERY PRO FOOTBALL TEAM

Kev Maxen, Jaguars assistant strength and ndng ach, is the first male ach a major U.S. men's profsnal sports league to e out as gay. * gay ex nfl football player *

The Rairs leman ma NFL history durg Pri Month 2021 when he me out as gay a heartfelt Instagram post, beg the first active NFL player to e out as member of the LGBTQ+ muny.

The Hampton Universy player ma history October of 2022 when he me out as gay an Instagram Story post, beg the first out gay football player at a Historilly Black College or Universy. "Speakg to OutSports, he ntued: "Especially at an HBCU, young Black gay men need an outlet.

Back 2013, Michael Sam was a llege football sensatn who cid to e out as the only known gay profsnal football player at the time.

THE 39 CURRENT NFL PLAYERS HAVE ALL PLAYED WH AN OUT GAY TEAMMATE

Gay ex-NFL player Wa Davis on creatg a more acceptg league. * gay ex nfl football player *

It was Augt of 2013 durg a team meetg, that Sam cid to announce to his llege teammat that he was gay. The word of Sam's g out as a gay player soon ronated throughout sports general as he was the only active, openly gay player at the time. In the recent wake of Jon Gn's homophobic (among other thgs) rhetorics which were spewed a 2011 email that forced him to rign, was disvered that Gn ed the words "queer" and "faggot" to scribe Sam when the Rams drafted him back 2014 (for the rerd, Gn also scribed NFLPA executive director DeMrice Smh, who is Ain Amerin, as havg "lips the size of Michell [sic] tir.

The announcement today by former Patrts and Chiefs offensive leman Ryan O'Callaghan that he is gay brgs to seven the number of NFL known gay players NFL history who have played a regular season game.

In addn, four other players who me out as gay were NFL trag mps, some playg preason gam. Kopay played wh two teammat who were gay: tight end Jerry Smh and nng back Ray McDonald.

KEV MAXEN BE FIRST GAY MALE NFL COACH

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 ex nfl football player *

Legendary Packers and Redsks ach Vce Lombardi — who had an openly gay brother — knew that some of his players were gay. In the Outsports article on O’Callaghan g out, longtime NFL executive Stt Pli says he has unseled gay NFL players before. Retired NFL lebacker Jeff Rohrer is gay and set to bee the first former or current NFL player a same-sex marriage, he revealed a new terview published on Wednday.

Said Rohrer, “If I had told the Dallas Cowboys the 1980s that I was gay, I would have been cut immediately.

BEFORE CARL NASSIB, MICHAEL SAM WAS THE NFL’S FIRST OPENLY GAY DRAFT PICK. HE NEVER PLAYED A REGULAR SEASON GAME.

Those who me before Carl Nassib as gay NFL players, will be among his biggt cheerlears Monday night. * gay ex nfl football player *

He told the Tim, “People are born gay, as I was, though beg gay was jt somethg that had no place durg the urse of my football life. In 2014, Michael Sam a llege football player publicly me out as a gay football player.

If he achiev this feat, he will bee the first active gay football player the NFL. He is a board member of the Gay and Lbian Athletics Foundatn and is also the Gay Gam Ambassador of the Feratn of Gay Gam.

Smh never ma public about his homosexualy but later after his ath, was nfirmed by his relativ that he was a gay. He beme the third NFL player to e out as a gay, after David Kopay and Roy Simmons.

CARL NASSIB, THE FIRST OPENLY GAY N.F.L. PLAYER, HAS BEEN A FOOTBALL EVERYMAN

He has also ttified at the State Legislature Senate Judiciary Commtee hearg opposn to an anti-gay-marriage bill. Wa Davis the former NFL fensive back me out of his closet 2012, clarg himself to be a gay.

Davis is a board member of the New York Gay Football League and of the Gay, Lbian and Straight Edutn Network sport-advisory. Soon his parents cid to send Harris away om his hometown for further tn to hi is homosexual his retirement om Amerin football, Kwame Harris 2013 publilly revealed of beg a homosexual an terview wh CNN.

(Rich Polk/Getty Imag for GLAAD)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 ’s not alone. 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 The New York Tim 2021.

JAGUARS ASSISTANT KEV MAXEN IS FIRST MALE NFL ACH TO E OUT AS GAY

”Back 2019, queer former NFL player Ryan O’Callahan said there was at least one player on every NFL team who is gay or bisexual. Natnal FootballLeague team has at least one gay or bisexual player, acrdg to openly gay former player Ryan O’Callaghan, but they fear backlash for g out cludg losg sponsorships or even their place on the roster.

I’M A GAY EX-NFL PLAYER. I N’T WA UNTIL PLAYERS LIKE CARL NASSIB DON’T NEED TO “E OUT.”

“I thk ’s safe to say there’s at least one on every team who is eher gay or bisexual. Male sports leagu, progrs has been player Robbie Rogers beme the first openly gay athlete actively playg U. Major league sports 2013, followed later that year by basketball player Jason NFL has yet to see an openly gay player on the field, and fewer than 10have e out first was David Kopay, now 77, who opened up about his sexualy 1975, three years after retirg.

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

”In 2014, player Michael Sam opened up about beg gay before beg drafted to the St.

Louis Rams, but was ultimately cut om the team before playg a profsnal went on to play for the Montreal Alouett as the first openly gay player the Canadian Football League before retirg for mental health reasons one of the few openly gay former U. “You have to expla to (young people), ‘You’re gog to n to some ignorant people, but you’ve got to have fah that they’ll tch up to the rt of the world and unrstand you are who you are, ’” he a teen ral California, O’Callaghan ternalized the gay jok and discrimatory language he heard his muny, and beme nvced his fay would hate him for beg gay.

Some people still believe that the NFL is a “homophobic” monolh where ’s “dangero” to be gay. Dpe Outsports chroniclg lerally dozens of piec of evince to the ntrary, there’s a ntued belief amongst some that NFL players would overwhelmgly reject a gay player if he me out.

GAY AND BI FORMER NFL PLAYERS EXCED TO SEE CARL NASSIB TAKE THE FIELD FOR RAIRS

So we set out to figure out how many current NFL players have already played on the same team wh an out gay teammate. We found 39 current NFL players, who were on a roster for the 2020 season, who have already had an out gay teammate. In addn, dozens of other players have played agast an opponent they knew to be gay.

EX-NFL PLAYER RYAN O'CALLAGHAN, WHO IS OPENLY GAY, ON JON GN: 'IT'S NEVER OK' TO E HOMOPHOBIC SLURS

The 39 current NFL players have played wh at least five gay or bisexual men who were out to their team while they were on the same team.

The Arizona Cardals have the most players we know have played wh an out gay teammate.

CARL NASSIB, FIRST OPENLY GAY NFL PLAYER, TO BE RELEASED BY RAIRS

At least six of the players on the Cardals’ 2020 roster — about 10% of the team, — has already had a gay teammate they knew of. Wh that experience, solid veteran learship, a ach Kliff Kgsbury who has ld gay football player Stt Frantz, and a ont office that has monstrated an embrace of LGBTQ people, is easy to make the se that an out gay player wh the Cardals would be weled.

Of urse many other NFL players have played wh a gay or bi teammate before they me out (e. The are the current NFL players to have played wh an out gay or bi man on their team (wh that team and their current team listed):.

If you thk I’ve missed a current NFL player who’s played wh an out gay or bi teammate, be sure to leave the rmatn the ments below.

JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS ASSISTANT KEV MAXEN BE FIRST MALE ACH MAJOR U.S. PRO LEAGUE TO E OUT AS GAY

Kev Maxen, an associate strength ach for the Jacksonville Jaguars football team, me out as gay on Thursday an terview wh the LGBTQ sports-foced webse Outsports.

In 2014, Michael Sam was the first out gay player to be drafted when he was selected by the then-St. On the achg si, several female assistant ach the NFL have prevly e out as gay, cludg former San Francis 49ers assistant ach Katie Sowers, there has prevly been no known out gay male head or assistant ach the league.

Curt Miller, who is currently the head ach of the Los Angel Sparks, is the first out gay male ach the WNBA, but there have been no out gay ach any of the four major men’s U. READ NEXTWhen You Get In Bed Wh Bigots, Please RensirWATCH: Island Hoe Staff Says “Keep Key Wt Gay”Atomic Blon: Our Film Crics Discs ‘Barbie’ and ‘Oppenheimer’Attempt to Remove San Diego Library’s LGBTQ Books Backfir.

*BEAR-MAGAZINE.COM* GAY EX NFL FOOTBALL PLAYER

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 .

TOP