Carl Nassib, the first active NFL player to come out as gay, recently shared the deeply personal story behind his decision during an interview on The Pivot Podcast.
In 2019, Nassib’s uncle, Bill, who was also gay, was on his deathbed battling cancer.
Nassib, already out to close friends and family, chose that moment to come out to his uncle.
Bill’s response was profound: “This is the biggest weight off of my chest. I’m not the only one.”
This exchange had a lasting impact on Nassib. He realized that many others might feel the same isolation his uncle did.
“I felt really charged after that to come out publicly,” Nassib recalled.
Despite being ready to come out earlier, Nassib waited due to the social climate in 2020, marked by the COVID-19 pandemic and the aftermath of George Floyd’s death. He felt the timing wasn’t right.
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However, after signing a significant contract with the Las Vegas Raiders, which provided him with job security, he decided to make his announcement in June 2021.
Alongside his coming out, Nassib donated $100,000 to The Trevor Project, a nonprofit focused on suicide prevention among LGBTQ+ youth.
The NFL matched his donation, highlighting the league’s support.
Since retiring from professional football in September 2023, Nassib has continued his advocacy work.
He founded Rayze, an app designed to connect individuals and businesses with nonprofits, aiming to make community involvement more accessible.
Nassib’s journey underscores the importance of representation and the impact of sharing one’s truth.
His story serves as an inspiration, showing that authenticity can pave the way for greater acceptance and understanding.
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