'Football is Gay:' NFL releases pro-LGBT video and homophobes are having a complete meltdown

NFL announced that "Football is gay" in a campaign to show their support for the LGBTQIA++ community, drawing sharp reactions from its fans. The new Pride month ad released by NFL is a huge step towards inclusivity and comes days after Carl Nassib, an NFL player of the Las Vegas Raiders, came out as gay, reported The Hill. Carl Nassib is the first player to come out as gay during his NFL career. Several former NFL players, including Dave Kopay, Ryan O'Callaghan, Wade Davis, and Ryan Russell came out as gay after they retired from the game. While many showed their support for Carl Nassib and lauded NFL, many homophobes revealed themselves online. Some even declared they wouldn't be watching the NFL ever again. 

"Football is lesbian. Football is beautiful. Football is queer. Football is life. Football is exciting. Football is culture. Football is transgender. Football is queer. Football is heart. Football is power. Football is tough. Football is bisexual. Football is strong. Football is freedom. Football is American. Football is accepting. Football is everything," said the NFL ad, before adding, "Football is for everyone." 

The league also announced that it was matching Carl Nassib's $100,000 donation to The Trevor Project, an anti-suicide LGBTQ organization, which describes itself as "the leading national organization providing crisis intervention and suicide prevention services to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer & questioning (LGBTQ) young people under 25." The NFL also urged its fans to support the cause. “If you love this game, you are welcome here. Football is for all. Football is for everyone. The NFL stands by the LGBTQ+ community today and every day,” said the NFL in a post. The video also included a stat that shows that youth members of the LGBTQ community "with at least one accepting adult" have a 40 percent lower risk of attempting suicide. 

Nassib, who's a defensive lineman, came out as gay on Instagram in an Instagram video. "I just want to take a quick moment to say that I'm gay," said Nassib, before adding, "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 my part to cultivate a culture that's accepting, that's compassionate." He also announced he was donating $100,000 to The Trevor Project. He was showered with support from all quarters, including other people from the league. Fans showed overwhelming support to Nassib, as was reflected in the sales for his no. 94 jersey, which was the top-selling NFL product for two days. 

"The NFL family is proud of Carl for courageously sharing his truth today. Representation matters," said NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, in a statement, reported Newsweek. "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. We wish Carl the best of luck this coming season," added the NFL Commissioner. Former Raider Bo Jackson showed his support for Nassib, writing, "Proud of Carl Nassib on coming out yesterday. The #RaiderNation the whole country, and I stand with you."

"It’s OK to not fully understand the LGBTQ+ experience for you to be an ally. You don’t need to be an expert in all the terms. You just need to try," said NFL senior director of diversity, equity, and inclusion, Sam Rapoport, reported USA Today. NFL's post on Twitter was flooded with negative comments by homophobes and misogynists. "Football is for men. Everyone else just tagging along," wrote one person. Another person responded, "Wow, who knew that people could send tweets from the Middle Ages?"