Homosexuality in American football

Few American football players have come out as gay. Six former National Football League (NFL) players have come out publicly after they retired.[1] There has never been anyone who has been publicly out while playing in the NFL.[1] Michael Sam was selected by the St. Louis Rams in 2014 NFL Draft, and became the first publicly gay player drafted in the league, but was released before the start of the regular season. He became the first publicly gay player to play in the Canadian Football League in August 2015. In college football, Division III player Conner Mertens came out as bisexual in January 2014, becoming the first active college football player at any level to publicly come out. In August 2014, Arizona State player Chip Sarafin became the first publicly out active Division I player.[2]

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Reception

The macho environment that exists in football along with the hypermasculinity promoted by sportscasters make it difficult for a player to come out.[3][4] Heterosexuality is flaunted in NFL locker rooms with the passing of pornographic magazines and videos, and visits to strip clubs.[5] Gay slurs are sometimes used in the locker room. Former NFL player Mark Schlereth said the slurs were not necessarily gay bashing, believing they were "more out of ignorance than anything else. It doesn't excuse it, it's just the way it is."[6]

While Green Bay Packers head coach Vince Lombardi was known to treat his players roughly in practices and during games, he insisted on unconditional respect for gay players and front office staff.[7] Demanding "Nothing But Acceptance" from players and coaches toward all people, Lombardi would fire a coach or release a player should they insult the sexual orientation of anyone.[8] In Washington, Lombardi's assistant general manager, David Slatterly, was gay, as was PR director Joe Blair, who was described as Lombardi's "right-hand man."[9] According to son Vince Lombardi, Jr., "He saw everyone as equals, and I think having a gay brother (Hal) was a big factor in his approach...I think my father would've felt, 'I hope I've created an atmosphere in the locker room where this would not be an issue at all. And if you do have an issue, the problem will be yours because my locker room will tolerate nothing but acceptance.'"[10] Upon his arrival in Washington, Lombardi was aware of tight end Jerry Smith's sexual orientation.[11] “Lombardi protected and loved Jerry,” said former teammate Dave Kopay.[12] Lombardi brought Smith into his office and told him that his sexual orientation would never be an issue as long as he was coaching the Redskins; Smith would be judged solely on his on-the-field performance and contribution to the team's success.[13] Under Lombardi's leadership Smith flourished, becoming an integral part of Lombardi's offense, and was voted a First Team All-Pro for the first time in his career, which was also Lombardi's only season as Redskin head coach.[14] Lombardi invited other gay players to training camp, and would privately hope they would prove they could earn a spot on the team.[15] At the Washington Redskins training camp in 1969, Ray McDonald was a gay player, with sub-par skills,[16] who was trying to make the Redskin roster again, but this time with Lombardi as the Redskins' new head coach. True to his word, Lombardi told running back coach, George Dickson,[17] "I want you to get on McDonald and work on him and work on him – and if I hear one of you people make reference to his manhood, you'll be out of here before your ass hits the ground."[18]

Prior to Super Bowl XLVII in 2013, San Francisco 49ers player Chris Culliver on media day during an interview with The Artie Lange Show, was asked if he thought any gay players were on his team which he replied, "No, we don't got no gay people on the team, they gotta get up out of here if they do ... Can't be with that sweet stuff." He also opined that any gay players should wait 10 years after retiring before coming out.[19] Culliver received backlash for his comments.[20] Then-Baltimore Ravens player Brendon Ayanbadejo, an advocate for same-sex marriage, estimated that 50 percent of the league agreed with Culliver, 25 percent disagreed, and 25 percent were accepting of everyone even if they were not in complete support of issues such as gay marriage.[20][21] Culliver later apologized for his "ugly comments" that were "not what I feel in my heart".[22][23][24]

In 2013, the NFL Rookie Symposium planned for the first time to have speakers on the issue of sexual orientation.[25] That same year, NFL player Chris Kluwe was released by the Minnesota Vikings, which he believed was due to his being outspoken in support of same-sex marriage. He said that special teams coach Mike Priefer in 2012 made homophobic remarks and criticized the player for his views on same-sex marriage, a charge Priefer denied. Kluwe also alleged that head coach Leslie Frazier told him to stop speaking out on same-sex marriage.[26] In December, former teammates on the 1993 Houston Oilers said that at least two key players on the roster were generally known by the team to be gay, and were accepted by the team. Teammate Bubba McDowell said showering with the gay teammates was “no big deal.”[27] In 2014, ESPN reported on Michael Sam's showering habits in the St. Louis Rams locker room, but later apologized that it "failed to meet the standards we have set in reporting on LGBT-related topics in sports."[28]

Players coming out

Selected by the then-St. Louis Rams in 2014, Michael Sam was the first publicly gay player to be drafted in the NFL.

Division II college football player Brian Sims came out to his team in 2000 while playing for Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania,[29] and publicly told his story in 2009.[30] Alan Gendreau was open to his Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders football team from 2008 through 2011, but they made no mention of it to the media.[31] Otherwise, he could have been the first publicly out gay active player in Division I college football.[32] Outsports, a Web site specializing in gays and sports, released his story about being a gay football player on April 23, 2013.[31][32] In January 2014, Conner Mertens of the Division III Willamette Bearcats publicly came out as bisexual, becoming the first active college football player at any level to publicly come out.[33][34]

After he retired, NFL player David Kopay in 1975 was the first major professional team-sport athlete to come out.[35][36] Many experts believe that the first openly gay active NFL player will not be a current athlete who comes out, but instead an already out high school or college player who ends up in the NFL.[1][32] CBSSports.com reported in April 2013 that one NFL team had a player that was not openly gay, but his teammates were aware of his sexual orientation and did not care.[37] That same month, Ayanbadejo said there were up to four NFL players who were considering coming out on the same day with the hope that any backlash would be shared and the pressure on one person reduced.[38] NFL commissioner Roger Goodell emphasized that sexual discrimination was unacceptable in the NFL. His statement came after players said they were asked during the NFL Scouting Combine if they liked girls.[39]

In February 2014, Sam publicly came out after his college career had ended, and became the first publicly gay player drafted in the NFL when he was selected in the seventh round of the 2014 draft.[34][40] Six months later, Chip Sarafin came out, becoming the first active Division I player to come out.[41] In August 2015, Sam became the first publicly gay player to play in a Canadian Football League (CFL) regular season game.[42]

Players who came out
Name Highest level Position Ref
Davis, WadeWade Davis NFL Cornerback [43]
Gallagher, EdEd Gallagher NCAA Division I Offensive tackle [44]
Gendreau, AlanAlan Gendreau NCAA Division I Placekicker [45]
Harris, KwameKwame Harris NFL Offensive tackle [46]
Kopay, DavidDavid Kopay NFL Running back [47]
McDonald, RayRay McDonald NFL Running back [48]
Mertens, ConnerConner Mertens NCAA Division III Placekicker [33]
Sam, MichaelMichael Sam NFLdagger / CFL Defensive end [42][49]
Sarafin, ChipChip Sarafin NCAA Division I Offensive lineman [41]
Simmons, RoyRoy Simmons NFL Guard [50]
Sims, BrianBrian Sims NCAA Division II Defensive tackle [51]
Smith, JerryJerry Smith* NFL Tight end [52]
Tuaolo, EseraEsera Tuaolo NFL Defensive tackle [53]
Lisoski, TheodoreTheodore Lisoski Semi-Pro Cornerback [54]

* Posthumously outed
dagger Drafted in the 2014 NFL draft, but has not played in the league.

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 Zeigler, Cyd (April 23, 2013). "Coming out kicking: Openly gay former college kicker tries for the NFL". Outsports. Retrieved April 24, 2013.
  2. ↑ Zeigler, Cyd (August 13, 2014). "Arizona State football offensive lineman Chip Sarafin comes out as gay". Outsports. Retrieved August 18, 2014.
  3. ↑ Stockwell, Anne; McAuley, J. V. (December 24, 1996). "Tackling the NFL closet". The Advocate (723): 51–55. ISSN 0001-8996.
  4. ↑ Diaz, George (April 27, 2013). "Orlando gay kicker wants to put boot to NFL stereotypes". Orlando Sentinel. Archived from the original on April 28, 2013.
  5. ↑ Morton, Danelle (June 10, 2013). "Out on the edge". ESPN The Magazine. Archived from the original on May 30, 2013.
  6. ↑ Covitz, Randy (November 2, 2009). "Gay athletes don't fit in what is perceived as a homophobic NFL". VictoriaAdvocate.com. Archived from the original on April 27, 2013.
  7. ↑ http://www.acmepackingcompany.com/2013/5/7/4307998/vince-lombardi-packers-acceptance-gay-athletes
  8. ↑ http://gawker.com/former-pro-football-player-reflects-on-brokeback-romanc-1506826397
  9. ↑ http://www.austinchronicle.com/daily/sports/2013-02-03/the-nfl-beat-lombardi-and-kopay/
  10. ↑ http://espn.go.com/new-york/nfl/story/_/id/9237535/vince-lombardi-proud-jason-collins
  11. ↑ http://www.citizen-times.com/story/sports/2014/02/10/45-years-ago-lombardi-accepted-a-gay-player/5381673/
  12. ↑ http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2013/05/03/vince-lombardi-accepted-gay-players-on-his-team/
  13. ↑ http://www.rightwisconsin.com/perspectives/would-vince-lombardi-have-drafted-a-gay-player-245172971.html
  14. ↑ Jerry Smith NFL Football Statistics – Pro-Football-Reference.com
  15. ↑ Maraniss 1999, p. 344.
  16. ↑ Maraniss 1999, p. 469.
  17. ↑ Maraniss 1999, p. 468.
  18. ↑ Maraniss 1999, p. 471.
  19. ↑ Rogers, Martin (April 18, 2012). "Report: Niners CB says openly gay players would not be welcomed on the team". yahoo.com. Retrieved January 30, 2013.
  20. 1 2 Burke, Chris (April 23, 2013). "Alan Gendreau trying to make NFL as openly gay kicker". SI.com. Archived from the original on April 27, 2013.
  21. ↑ Wetzel, Dan (January 31, 2013). "Chris Culliver's remarks, Manti Te'o episode make it hard for active gay athlete to go public". yahoo.com. Archived from the original on April 27, 2013.
  22. ↑ "Chris Culliver sorry for 'ugly' remarks". ESPN.com. January 31, 2013. Retrieved January 31, 2013.
  23. ↑ Wesseling, Chris (January 30, 2013). "Chris Culliver apologizes for anti-gay comments". National Football League. Retrieved January 30, 2013.
  24. ↑ Breech, John (January 30, 2013). "49ers' Chris Culliver: Openly gay player not welcome". CBSSports.com. Retrieved January 30, 2013.
  25. ↑ McManus, Jane (June 19, 2013). "Rookies to hear about sexuality". ESPN.com. Archived from the original on June 20, 2013.
  26. ↑ Goessling, Ben (January 2, 2014). "Kluwe: Cut due to outspoken views". ESPN.com. Archived from the original on January 3, 2014.
  27. ↑ Smith, Brian T. (December 26, 2013). "Two members of 1993 Oilers were gay; teammates knew, didn’t care". Houston Chronicle. Archived from the original on January 22, 2014.
  28. ↑ Curtis, Bryan (December 12, 2014). "The Kiss". Grantland. Archived from the original on December 12, 2014.
  29. ↑ Zeigler Jr., Cyd (April 27, 2009). "Former college football captain was openly gay". Outsports.com. Archived from the original on January 15, 2013.
  30. ↑ Zeigler, Cyd (August 24, 2011). "Moment #43: Brian Sims tells his story nine years later". outsports.com. Archived from the original on April 27, 2013.
  31. 1 2 Watson, Graham (April 23, 2013). "Former Middle Tennessee kicker was openly gay with teammates, coaches". yahoo.com. Retrieved April 23, 2013.
  32. 1 2 3 Branch, John (April 23, 2013). "A Potential Pioneer, Just Looking for a Job". The New York Times. Retrieved April 24, 2013.
  33. 1 2 "Active college player comes out". ESPN.com. January 29, 2014. Archived from the original on February 10, 2014.
  34. 1 2 Connelly, Chris (February 9, 2014). "Mizzou's Michael Sam says he's gay". ESPN. Retrieved February 9, 2014.
  35. ↑ Garber, Greg (January 15, 1999). "Still waiting for a hero". ESPN.com. Archived from the original on April 28, 2013.
  36. ↑ Wise, Mike (April 27, 2013). "Dave Kopay knows what questions should be asked by NFL". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on April 28, 2013.
  37. ↑ Freeman, Mike (April 27, 2013). "Teammates, coaches knew of gay NFL player and didn't care". CBSSports.com. Archived from the original on April 27, 2013.
  38. ↑ "Advocate: Players may come out". ESPN.com. April 27, 2013. Archived from the original on April 27, 2013.
  39. ↑ Battista, Judy (April 24, 2013). "N.F.L. Will Advise Teams on Discrimination Policy". The New York Times. Archived from the original on April 28, 2013.
  40. ↑ Belson, Ken (May 10, 2014). "In Historic Pick, Rams Take Michael Sam in Final Round of Draft". The New York Times. Archived from the original on May 11, 2014.
  41. 1 2 Fischer, Bryan (August 13, 2014). "Arizona State OL Chip Sarafin announces he's gay". National Football League. Retrieved August 13, 2014.
  42. 1 2 "Michael Sam is 1st openly gay man to play in CFL regular season game". cbc.ca. August 7, 2015. Archived from the original on August 10, 2015.
  43. ↑ "Wade Davis Talks about Being Gay: Former NFL player working with LGBTQ youth for the first time". Outsports. 5 June 2011.
  44. ↑ "Ed Gallagher, who turned suicide attempt to activism, dies". Outsports. 13 May 2005. Retrieved 5 January 2012.
  45. ↑ Branch, John (April 23, 2013). "A Potential Pioneer, Just Looking for a Job". New York Times. Retrieved April 24, 2013.
  46. ↑ "Domestic charges for Kwame Harris". ESPN.com. Associated Press. January 29, 2013. Archived from the original on January 29, 2013.
  47. ↑ Garber, Greg (15 January 1999). "Still waiting for a hero". ESPN. Retrieved 6 January 2012.
  48. ↑ Kroeger, Brooke (2004). Passing: When People Can't Be Who They Are. New York: PublicAffairs. p. 238. ISBN 1-58648-287-4.
  49. ↑ Sessler, Marc (May 10, 2014). "Michael Sam drafted by St. Louis Rams at No. 249". NFL.com.
  50. ↑ Simmons, Roy; DiMarco, Damon; Fisher, David; Hester, Jimmy (2006). Out of Bounds: Coming Out of Sexual Abuse, Addiction, and My Life of Lies in the NFL Closet. Carroll & Graf Publishers. p. 222. ISBN 0-7867-1681-9.
  51. ↑ Zeigler, Jr., Cyd (27 April 2009). "Former college football captain was openly gay". Outsports. Retrieved 14 January 2012.
  52. ↑ Provenzano, Jim (31 December 2003). "Who was the first gay football player to play in the Super Bowl?". Windy City Times. Retrieved 7 January 2012.
  53. ↑ Tuaolo, Esera; Luke Cyphers (30 October 2002). "Free and Clear". ESPN the Magazine. Retrieved 7 January 2012.
  54. ↑ "After never having played, gay man finds semi-pro football after Asperger's diagnosis". Outsports. 16 April 2015. Retrieved 23 October 2015.
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