These 11 NFL players have all expressed powerful support for the gay community
Dozens of current and former NFL players have shared their support for gay rights over the years. This is just a sampling of them. The post These 11 NFL players have all expressed powerful support for the gay community appeared first on Outsports.
Mark
Over the years, Outsports has highlighted many dozens of current and former NFL players who have vocally supported gay and lesbian people, same-sex marriage and the LGBTQ community.
Yet there continues to be a mystique around the NFL that paints the league and its players that tells fans they might be rejected the league and its teams if they are gay, lesbian, bi or trans.
We love revisiting the NFL players who have made it clear they are inclusive of the LGBTQ community. Here are some that stand out.
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Michael Strahan
The New York Giants legend leant his voice to the push for marriage equality in 2011, as the push for same-sex marriage was ramping up. “I always played the game tough but fair,” Strahan said at the time. “And I feel it’s unfair to keep committed couples from being married.”
Michael Irvin
The Hall Of Fame wide receiver won three Super Bowls with the Dallas Cowboys. He’s talked publicly about his love and support for his gay brother, who has since deceased. “I don’t want to know an African-American who will say everybody doesn’t deserve equality,” Irvin said over a decade ago.
Julian Edelman
Former New England Patriots receiver Julian Edelman made his position on gay marriage clear when in 2015 he changed his social media avatar to his photo with a Pride rainbow. Edelman won three Super Bowls with the Patriots.
Chris Kluwe
Former Minnesota Vikings kicker Chris Kluwe made gay rights a central part of his platform while he was playing in the NFL. Kluwe was instrumental in elevating the conversation about same-sex marriage and marriage equality in pro sports.
Brendon Ayanbadejo
Brendon Ayanbadejo was, along with Kluwe, a force to be reckoned with as pro athletes debated marriage equality over a decade ago. The Super Bowl champion with the Baltimore Ravens talked openly in the media about his support for gay rights, also opening up about his disagreement with Ravens teammate Matt Birk, who opposed same-sex marriage.
Trey McBride
When you’re raised by two moms, it becomes natural to support the gay community. That’s the story for Arizona Cardinals tight end Trey McBride, who was drafted out of Colorado State by the Cardinals, and who was raised by two women.
Derek Carr
When Derek Carr was the starting quarterback for the Las Vegas Raiders, defensive teammate Carl Nassib came out publicly as gay. While there has been much debate about the support a gay pro athlete would receive from teammates, Carr stepped up as a team leader and shared his support. “He’s our brother,” Carr said in July 2021 on Cris Collinsworth’s podcast. “So if you want to mess with him, you have to go through us.”
Saquon Barkley
When Carl Nassib came out publicly as gay, a handful of NFL players shared their support for him, unprompted. Saquon Barkley was one of those players, despite playing for another team.
Maurice Hurst
When he was a player for the San Francisco 49ers, DT Maurice Hurst talked with Outsports about his acceptance of people in the LGBTQ community. “When you connect with someone, you really don’t think about their sexuality or anything like that,” Hurst said. “They’re just close friends and you treat them as such.”
Rob Gronkowski
Rob Gronkowski has shared his support of the gay community and being chill in general on multiple occasions, starting with the brief interview Outsports held with the tight end at the 2012 ESPYs. As a straight guy, it’s also been cool to see him talk openly about checking out other dudes in the shower, including Tom Brady.
DeAndre Hopkins
DeAndre Hopkins has been open about his support for his gay sister. The three-time first-team All-Pro has played for five NFL teams: Houston Texans, Arizona Cardinals, Tennessee Titans, Kansas City Chiefs and now this season with the Baltimore Ravens.
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The post These 11 NFL players have all expressed powerful support for the gay community appeared first on Outsports.
