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NFL: Raiders' Nassib comes out as NFL's first openly gay player

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Agence France-Presse

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2021/reuters/06/22/nfl.jpg"/><figcaption>Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Carl Nassib celebrates at the end of the game against the Los Angeles Chargers at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, U.S. November 8, 2020. <em>Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports/File Photo</em></figcaption></figure></div><p>Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Carl Nassib made history on Monday after coming out as the first active openly gay player in the NFL, announcing his sexual orientation in a post on social media. </p><p>The 28-year-old five-year veteran said in a video posted on Instagram he hoped his example would boost visibility of other gay athletes. </p><p>&quot;I just wanted to take a quick moment to say that I&#x27;m gay,&quot; Nassib said in the video. </p><p>&quot;I&#x27;ve been meaning to do this for a while now but finally feel comfortable getting it off my chest. I really have the best life, the best family, friends and job a guy can ask for.</p><p>&quot;I&#x27;m a pretty private person, so I hope you guys know that I&#x27;m not doing this for attention. I just think that representation and visibility are so important.</p><p>&quot;I actually hope that one day, videos like this and the whole coming out process are not necessary, but until then I will do my best and my part to cultivate a culture that&#x27;s accepting and compassionate.&quot;</p><p>Nassib added that he was donating $100,000 to the Trevor Project, a non-profit group which works to prevent suicide among LGBTQ youth in the United States.</p><p>In a written post which accompanied the statement, Nassib said he had &quot;agonized over this moment for the last 15 years.&quot;</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/02/10/21/nfl-super-bowl-draws-964-million-viewers-lowest-in-14-years">NFL: Super Bowl draws 96.4 million viewers, lowest in 14 years</a></li></ul><p>He said support from family, friends, coaches and fellow players encouraged him to come out.</p><p>&quot;I would not have been able to do this without them,&quot; he said.</p><div><strong>- &#x27;Proud of you&#x27; -</strong></div><p>Nassib is the first player on an active roster to come out as gay in the NFL.</p><p>Several players have come out after leaving the league, the most popular professional sport in the United States.</p><p>In 2014, college player Michael Sam was drafted by the St. Louis Rams after coming out as gay but was released after playing in a handful of pre-season games and never played a regular season game in the league.</p><p>The Raiders meanwhile praised Nassib in a post on Twitter.</p><p>&quot;Proud of you Carl,&quot; the team wrote in a post accompanying Nassib&#x27;s Instagram statement.</p><p>NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell saluted Nassib, saying he hoped similar announcements in future would no longer be newsworthy.</p><p>&quot;The NFL family is proud of Carl for courageously sharing his truth today,&quot; Goodell said. </p><p>&quot;Representation matters. We share his hope that someday soon statements like his will no longer be newsworthy as we march toward full equality for the LGBTQ+ community.</p><p>&quot;We wish Carl the best of luck this coming season.&quot;</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/03/31/21/nfl-owners-approve-17-game-regular-season">NFL owners approve 17-game regular season</a></li></ul><p>Wade Davis II, one of a handful of former NFL players who came out after leaving the league, was among the first to congratulate Nassib. </p><p>&quot;Bravo Carl Nassib -- thank you for inviting us in,&quot; Davis wrote on Twitter.</p><p>Former basketball player Jason Collins, who became only the second openly gay athlete in a major professional sports league in the United States when he joined the Brooklyn Nets in 2014 also offered support. </p><p>&quot;Very proud of Carl Nassib!&quot; Collins wrote on Twitter. &quot;Incredibly happy for him and can&#x27;t wait to watch him play this upcoming season.&quot;</p><div><strong>rcw/gph</strong></div><div><strong>© Agence France-Presse</strong></div><div><strong>FROM THE ARCHIVES</strong></div><figure class="op-interactive"><iframe allow="autoplay; fullscreen" frameBorder="0" height="100%" id="ivsplayer01" scrolling="no" src="https://player.ivideosmart.com/ivsplayer/v4/dist/html/iframe-src.html?iframeid=ivsplayer01&amp;key=e8c22c015ca9eafa76f1e3edfa03c603&amp;spid=3001339&amp;vid=1711444" width="100%"></iframe></figure><div class="iwantbar">Watch more in <a href="//www.iwantv.com.ph/">iWantv</a> or <a href="//tfc.tv/">TFC.tv</a></div>

<p>Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Carl Nassib made history on Monday after coming out as the first active openly gay player in the NFL, announcing his sexual orientation in a post on social media. </p>

Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Carl Nassib made history on Monday after coming out as the first active openly gay player in the NFL, announcing his sexual orientation in a post on social media.