Raiders DE Carl Nassib Becomes First Active, Gay NFL Player
Jun 22, 2021, 10:00 AM | Updated: Dec 8, 2022, 11:01 am
(Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Carl Nassib came out as gay on Instagram.
Along with coming out, Nassib announced he will donate $100K to The Trevor Project, an organization that is instrumental in preventing LGBTQ+ youth suicides.
“I’ve been meaning to do this for a while now, but I finally feel comfortable enough to get it off my chest. I really have the best life, I’ve got the best family, friends and job a guy could ask for. I am a pretty private person, so I hope you guys don’t think I am doing this for attention, I just think that representation and visibility are so important. I actually hope that one-day videos like this and the whole coming-out process are just not necessary. But until then I am going to do my best and do my part to cultivate a culture that is accepting,” said Nassib.
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Nassib also included a written message in his Instagram post explaining his mindset and obstacles he had to overcome before publically coming out.
“Sadly, I have agonized over this moment for the last 15 years. Only until recently, thanks to my family and friends … did it seem possible for me to say publicly and proudly that I am gay,” wrote Nassib.