Homosexuality in American football

Uncommon card · No. 145951

Homosexuality in American football has historically been a taboo subject. The generally masculine environment that exists in men's American football, along with the hypermasculinity promoted by sportscasters, make it difficult for players to come out. In women's football in 2001, Philadelphia Liberty Belles player Alissa Wykes of the National Women's Football Association (NWFA) came out publicly as lesbian. In men's football, after he retired, NFL player David Kopay in 1975 was the first major professional team-sport athlete to come out as gay. Players did not come out at the college level until the 2010s. 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 as bisexual or gay. In August 2014, Arizona State player Chip Sarafin became the first publicly out active Division I player when he came out as gay. There has been only one player who has publicly come out...

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