Some of the most famous players currently playing in the NFL are gay, according to former player and LGBTQ rights advocate Brendon Ayanbadejo.
We already knew closeted players are out there, but Ayanbadejo’s comments to TMZ confirm that some of the league’s most recognizable names are waiting for the right moment to come out.
Until now, Michael Sam is still the only person to be openly gay while on an NFL team. And that hasn’t worked out so well for him.
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So we can understand why a career athlete — especially one with household name recognition and all the endorsement deals that come with it — would be hesitant to make their sexuality a headline.
That’s the catch-22. It’s been previously reported that some gay players would be comfortable coming out if the media wouldn’t treat it as a big story, but the only way that will happen is with a critical mass of players coming out.
NFL draft analyst and radio host Benjamin Allbright Tweeted in July of last year:
1/2 Spoke with two veteran NFL players this month who are gay, and would publicly come out if they knew "media wouldn't make it a thing."
— Benjamin Allbright (@AllbrightNFL) July 27, 2015
2/2 Both said teammates "mostly know," and are "supportive." Say most who know "just avoid it [the subject] altogether."
— Benjamin Allbright (@AllbrightNFL) July 27, 2015
Gay players don’t want to shine a spotlight on their sexuality, but until they step into the light and show that it’s not “a thing,” nothing will change.
And while the above Tweets suggest there is support among fellow teammates, homophobia is arguably stitched more into American football than any other sport.
Just last month, gay NFL reporter Chris Hine came out in order to call out the antigay culture he’s observed while working closely with the NFL.
He argued that the professional adults in the room set a tone that trickles down to college, high school — even junior high school campuses.
In 2014, a group of seven high school football players ranging in age from 15 to 17 were charged with sex crimes after an antigay hazing ritual in the school’s locker room. That’s to say nothing of the homophobic bullying, teasing and harassment that takes place on school campuses daily.
Where could kids possibly be learning that it isn’t OK to be gay and be an athlete?
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Coming out will always be a deeply personal choice, no matter who you are, but we hope these players take into consideration the wave of good they could do by stepping temporarily into that uncomfortable spotlight.
Ayanbadejo says gay NFL superstars are “already here, we just don’t know who they are. They’re already amongst us.”
It will take some brave, perhaps awkward steps to help speed up progress.
See Ayanbadejo’s interview, in which he also says he supports teams boycotting states with antigay laws, below:
AtticusBennett
it’s rather ironic, isn’t? those in the “manliest” sport who are thought of to be the “strongest manliest of men” cannot do what people inaccurately described as “sissies” have been doing for decades.
if that short skinny picked-on kid can come out, you giant built grown-adult men surely can.
pjm1
There is a difference in issue with professional sports and coming out (in my opinion).
That is, to compete at the level of the NFL you have to be 100% and dedicated. If a major
player did come out — it would be a three ring circus much bigger than Michael Sam’s circus.
How can a pro athlete deal with the three ring circus and compete at that high level AND
get paid millions (or tens of millions) for performance — which means wins.
Though, it may be easy to sit back and say others should come out, for an NFL player right
now would probably end that players career — whether we like it or not — that is the reality.
Should we tell gays in Saudi Arabia to come out and fight for their rights? Obviously not.
The repercussions are different in degree than NFL players — but athletes have the right to
earn a living without a circus.
Leonard Woodrow
It is sad that these closeted gay footballers are forced to live a lie because of the ignorant bigotry of the football world. Common sense and education will finally win through, and we can only fight to make it soon. Michael Sams is a brave man who has been crucified by backward minds.
Masc Pride
“Spoke with two veteran NFL players this month who are gay, and would publicly come out if they knew “media wouldn’t make it a thing.”
Interesting. According to this statement, some are already “ready” but don’t want media to make a huge deal over it; we’ve never experienced any celebrities that wanted to do it this way. The same media that’s so eager to make a gay football player the headline of the year is actually playing a part in the hold up. The irony!
Masc Pride
Also, the argument that these guys aren’t manly or strong just because they’re not out is super flawed. A lot of those “short, skinny, picked-on kids” go on to work in the fashion industry or become dancers or wind up in some other profession where over-the-top flamboyance is almost expected. It’s much easier to come out to an accepting/expecting environment. It’s going to much tougher for guys in more macho professions to come out. There’s really no comparison.
Rocinante
When this is no longer a story we will know we have been fully integrated into normal society. I hear claims from the right that gays have all the same rights now why do we need laws to protect them. As long as Large portions of our community are scared to come out we are not equal. I don’t ever expect everyone to agree with my lifestyle, what I would like to see some day is no societal induced shame being imposed on kids discovering who they are. That is what causes higher levels of suicide and substance abuse..
Billy Budd
If I were a closeted professional athlete or Hollywood actor, making millions of dollars in every season of for every movie, I would NEVER come out. It is simply impossible. Money is more important for them. We will have to wait for a long time before things change.
Bob LaBlah
Being gay has become a political movement that seems to have lost its way. Why would I have to know with whom and where you sleep?
Kangol
Given the vicious attacks on Michael Sam, including by gay people (on here, no less), and the almost blasé response to Jason Collins’ brave coming out, I can see why some NFL players are still hesitant.
On the other hand, it’s 2016, and the more people who are out, the more we show that gay people exist in every profession, in every sector, in every part of this society.
The problem isn’t being gay, it’s homophobia and transphobia, including self-loathing homophobia and transphobia among gay, bi and trans people.
I hope some NFLers come out, but if they do, they deserve support and praise, because it will be a big deal, instead of mockery and rejection. And that goes for any and all pro athletes, male and female, cis and trans.
jimontp
@Bob LaBlah: YOU obviously don’t need to know anything. But there are thousands of high school and college football players who really DO need to know that there are NFL stars who are gay, and they need to know that homophobia is not acceptable. Are you not old enough to remember that Harvey Milk made “being gay a political movement,” as you phrased it, almost 40 years, “come out, come out!” I think YOU have LOST your way.
Bob LaBlah
@jimontp: “I think YOU have LOST your way.” So the right wing is right? There is a “hidden homosexual agenda?”
Kangol
@Bob LaBlah: Being gay is more than who you sleep with. You can get gay or bi and never have sex with anyone (sad though that might be).
A homophobe’s perception of a LGBTQ person’s same-sexual orientation–whether you sleep with anyone or not–can get you fired, can mean the loss of your home and children, can mean being denied services, etc., in OVER HALF of the states in the US. Are you unaware of this? We do not have civil protections in over half the US states.
Having pro athletes, especially NFL players, come out raises LGBTQ visibility, sends a powerful message to younger LGBTQ people and older ones who are closeted/DL that being gay/bi/trans is OK. It also says to the entire society that gay people are everywhere, and should be accepted as fully equal.
Kangol
You can BE gay or bi and never have sex with anyone (sad though that might be).
Masc Pride
@Kangol: What if they don’t want the public praise or the obligation to be a spokesman for the gay community? It should be imposed on them anyway? Isn’t coming out supposed to be for and about the individual? Ultimately, genuine progress will be shown when coming out isn’t even necessary.
martinbakman
@AtticusBennett: Can’t argue. It is ironic. But I agree with the idea that the media would fuq it up and steer the story to an ugly place. Look at how on-line media like Huffy Post always gives the religious right their piece in every story, of how “controversial” we gays are, because we want to be treated a certain way that goes against the Evangelical X-tians.
Daniel-Reader
Because a paid professional sport based on publicity cannot handle more publicity? That makes no sense.
Bob LaBlah
@Masc Pride: Well said. I think this is the interview that killed Michael Sam’s chance of getting into the NFL. I got the impression from it that in his next interview he was going to take it upon himself to start naming those who contacted him to wish him well. If he were to do it now he would have no credibility but it just goes to show what happens when you try to do the right thing not knowing how immature some one really is. They can cry discrimination all they want the NFL is a BUSINESS and they protected their investments. To hell with political correctness when you are trying to fill seats. He should have known that.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D9kFz8-4Az0
Brian
None of the NFL players publicly identify as “gay” but you can be sure that male homosexual desires exist in almost all NFL players just as they do in all men in general. You can’t escape it. It’s there whether you like it or not.
Identifying as gay is an act of homophobia so I’m actually quite glad that none of them have identified as gay, at least not in a public sense.
joe
why do gay people think every other gay person has to come out. these guys are in a profession, a job, its their life. they owe the owners of the team a good days work like any of us receiving a pay check. IF they want to come out, ok, that’s their choice but no one owes anyone anything so far as their private personal lives go. i have worked at the same place (in higher education) for over 25 yrs, no one ever asked me and i have never volunteered. WHY would it come up? it’s work, we all get along and while i’m sure some may wonder, guess, it’s no one’s business and i don’t think it makes any difference if i’m a professor or a football player. i agree with some of these guys that said everyone would just make a big deal about it, also what if they don’t want their families to know? i have a friend with an 86 yr old mother why go there at this point they have a great relationship and everyone’s situation is different. geez give it a rest
Billy Budd
I have the strong impression the BRIAN is certifiable.
Paco
They are probably waiting until they can just be football players that just happen to be gay, instead of having their lives turned upside down by the media and gay activists that want to use them to push their own agendas by turning them into only gay men that are lucky to be playing football.
After seeing the circus of vultures that instantly descended on Michael Sam, turning his career into only caring about who he is sleeping with, I can’t really blame them for not coming out. Maybe they just want to be known for being pro football players.
youarekiddingme
@AtticusBennett: The “short, skinny, picked on kid” is not using his body to earn a living for himself and his family either. If a player in the NFL is lucky enough to play for 3 seasons (that’s a huge “if” by the way), he will get health insurance paid by the NFL for 5 years. Nothing after that unless he invested the cash into a HRA type plan. Depending on his salary (not everybody is a superstar and makes millions of dollars), the amount that his is able to save may not cover that many years of Cobra Premiums. Yes he can get Obamacare now, but think about what the player has to “gamble” with if he decides to come out? The magical 3 seasons…His increase in salary…How about endorsements (sometimes many times more than salary)? It’s not quite as straight-forward (no pun intended) as you put it in your statement. These guys end up with horrible, life-long injuries that often limit the types of career opportunities they can pursue. Coming out is great but still an individual choice. Nobody should be forced out. I’m married to a man and I still don’t tell everybody…it’s not everybody’s business. I don’t hide it, but I don’t announce it either. Atticus I know you’re all out and proud and think most everyone should be but it just doesn’t work that way…yet. Still too much prejudice, and lacking way too many legal protections in most states.
Invert
@Bob LaBlah: the same could be said of many kinds of movements, though- christians are hugely involved in politics when religion should be a private matter. Why do we need to know who or what someone worships? I can’t think of many social groups that aren’t involved in being a political movement concerned with the rights of its individual members.
And I think that the only “hidden homosexual agenda” has to do with precisely the issue of hiding- some of us don’t want to but some of us still have to. The ones that don’t want to hide are working visibly to make sure that those that have to hide don’t have to any longer.
Bob LaBlah
@Invert: Whatever.