The National Football League recognized Pride Month with a new video released Monday that declares, “football is gay.”
In the video shared on Twitter, the NFL also says football is “queer,” “transgender,” “American,” and “Accepting.”
“If you love this game, you are welcome here. Football is for all. Football is for everyone,” the organization’s tweet states. “The NFL stands by the LGBTQ+ community today and every day. For more information on how you can help the @TrevorProject, visit http://thetrevorproject.org.”
NFL diversity director Sam Rapoport told Outsports that he was proud of the message, adding that he would be repeating “Football is gay” to himself all season.
“I am proud of the clear message this spot sends to the NFL’s LGBTQ+ fans: This game is unquestionably for you,” Rapoport told the outlet. “I will be playing its first line over and over in my head all season.”
The league reiterated the video’s message in a statement that asserted, “Football is for Everyone.”
“In the new film “Football is for Everyone” from the NFL in partnership with The Trevor Project and creative agency 72andSunny Los Angeles, the league redefines the game to be inclusive of all different types of fans, coaches and players,” the NFL’s statement read. “The film also features The Trevor Project to highlight life-saving resources for LGTBQ+ youth.”
NFL chief marketing officer Tim Ellis echoed the league’s message, adding that celebrating Pride is “imperative.”
“This spot is about celebrating Pride, and the importance of inclusion. It’s imperative that we use our voice and leverage the NFL platform to drive positive change, which includes supporting what our players care about and what they stand for,” he said.
The video comes after Las Vegas Raiders lineman Carl Nassib came out last week, becoming the first openly gay player in the NFL.
“What’s up, people, I’m Carl Nassib. I’m at my house here in West Chester, Pennsylvania. Just want to take a quick moment to say that I’m gay. I’ve been meaning to do this for a while now, but I finally feel comfortable enough to get it off my chest,” Nassib said in a video shared on Twitter on June 22. “I really have the best life. I got the best family, friends and job a guy could ask for. I’m a pretty private person, so I hope you guys know that I’m really not 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’m going to do my best and do my part to cultivate a culture that’s accepting, that’s compassionate, and I’m going to start by donating $100,000 to The Trevor Project,” he continued. “They’re an incredible organization. They’re the number one suicide prevention service for LGBTQ youth in America and they’re truly doing incredible things. I’m very excited to be a part of it to help in any way that I can and I’m really pumped to see what the future holds.”
After Nassib’s announcement, President Joe Biden praised the football player, along with LGBT+ athlete Kumi Yokoyama, on Twitter.
“To Carl Nassib and Kumi Yokoyama – two prominent, inspiring athletes who came out this week: I’m so proud of your courage,” Biden wrote. “Because of you, countless kids around the world are seeing themselves in a new light today.”
